Find Us at the Emerald City Comic Con!

Come visit us at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, Washington, from Friday, March 28th through Sunday the 30th! You will find us at Artist's Alley table LL-14 (click here for a map). We'll be selling copies of Smash: Trial by Fire and the Emerald City-exclusive poster below.

In addition, we'll be at the following panels:

Comics are for Kids Again! Friday, March 28th - 1:00PM Room: TCC 302

For many years, the comic industry ran away from its kid-friendly roots, toward more serious, dark, "adult" work. Now a slew of comics and graphic novels are embracing younger readers and finding a new generation of eager comic lovers! Panelists include Jake Parker (Missile Mouse), Shelli Paroline Lamb (Adventure Time), Chris Giarrusso (G-Man), Kevin Konrad Hanna (Creature Academy), and Chris & Kyle Bolton (Smash: Trial by Fire).

Kids Make Comics! Saturday, March 29th - 5:00PM Room: TCC 302

Making comics is fun... and so easy, any kid can do it! Chris and Kyle Bolton, the creators of the all-ages comic SMASH, offer quick and easy instructions for kids of all ages to create their own comics, learn to work together, and have fun doing it.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, and... HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!

SMASH Reading at Laurelhurst Elementary School

Last week, we had an incredible time visiting several classrooms' worth of fourth- and fifth-graders at Laurelhurst Elementary School in Seattle. The event was put together by Sue Nevins of Seattle's fantastic Mockingbird Books and overseen by Laurelhurst school librarian Tom Brown. Of course, we took lots of photos! (Click on the image for a bigger version.)

The Bolton brothers arrive at Seattle's Laurelhurst Elementary.

A grand welcome!

The brothers pose before the event. (Chris on the left, Kyle on the right)

Laurelhurst librarian Tom Brown warms up the crowd.

We start with an excerpt from Smash: Trial by Fire, with Kyle and I performing the voices of the characters and providing sound effects.

Kyle demonstrates "How to Draw Smash."

Kyle and I show the kids how we make comics, with me describing the panel that Kyle draws in front of the students.

We ask the kids for dialogue suggestions, then they vote for their favorite.

Kyle draws the second panel.

Then we have the kids vote again. Is this how the story should end? The choice is theirs!

Some kids wanted their shoes signed afterward. (I just hope their parents didn't get mad!)

Afterwards, we signed books for all the kids who ordered a copy.

Sue capably handles crowd control as we're swarmed by eager readers.

By now, Kyle and I have mastered the art of synchronized signing.

HUGE thanks to super-powered school librarian Tom Brown (left) and the amazing Sue Nevins (far right) from Mockingbird Books!

We had such a great time and loved meeting so many enthusiastic young Smash fans!

Want us to visit your school, library, or classroom? If we're available, we'd love to! Send us an email at smashcomic@gmail.com.

Another Great Review for SMASH!

SMASH: TRIAL BY FIRE just got a great write-up on the website Bookslut (don't worry, it's safe to read!) from ace blogger Colleen Mondor, who calls it "a funny story with bright artwork and a nice wide size that early readers should enjoy exploring on their own."

She goes on to write:

SMASH has a lot of humor....[Chris] Bolton makes Andrew extremely believable and lets him fulfill a few kid fantasies along with the more serious hero stuff. Kyle Bolton's artwork is perfect; the faces are very expressive, and he captures Andrew's alternately confident and overwhelmed expressions with aplomb. Elementary-schoolers are going to get a lot of joy out of this one, and I hope a sequel, set up by the final pages, will be released soon.

Click here to read the whole column. Thanks, Colleen!

And you can check out more reviews for SMASH right here.

SMASH Has Super Bowl Fever!

Can you tell which team he's rooting for?

Click on the image for a larger version!

Please Help Stan Sakai!

Aside from the singular achievement of writing and drawing the fantastic comic series Usagi Yojimbo for more than 30 years, Stan Sakai is a truly kind, generous person. But sometimes, for reasons we struggle to understand, terrible things happen to wonderful people. Recently Stan met with some personal tragedies. Money can't solve all problems, but it sure helps with medical bills and financial difficulties in times of crisis. CAPS, the Cartoon Art Professional Society, has set up a donation page to help Stan and is accepting art donations for auction.

Here is Kyle's contribution, a team-up of Smash and Usagi Yojimbo. (Click the image for a larger version.)

If you'd like to help Stan out, please click here to donate. Every little bit counts!

Give the Gift of SMASH!

'Tis the season for hunting down the perfect gift for everyone you know and love. If someone on your shopping list craves adventure, humor, fantasy, and a fast-paced story with unforgettable characters, pick up a copy of SMASH: TRIAL BY FIRE! A Junior Library Guild Selection and 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens nominee, SMASH: TRIAL BY FIRE brings every child's superhero fantasy to life with action, humor, and eye-popping artwork.

"Smash is an action-packed crowd-pleaser....Sure to be a draw for superhero fans and reluctant readers alike." — School Library Journal

"Filled with humor, action, and art that makes it a fun ride for everyone." — Good Comics for Kids

"SMASH: Trial by Fire sits squarely at the intersection of Spider-Man and Calvin and Hobbes." — The Sleeping Hedgehog

This holiday season, share the magic — and help Santa delight your loved ones with a gift they'll never forget!

Available at Barnes & Noble stores or your favorite independent bookseller, you can also find SMASH online at Amazon, Indie Bound, and Powells.com.

Kyle Bolton Interview at NW Book Lovers Blog!

The blog NW Book Lovers interviewed Kyle about Smash, his drawing inspirations, and more! And writer Kristianne Huntsberger had some lovely things to say about Smash: Trial by Fire:

Chris' energetic storytelling and Kyle's bright illustrations capture readers in the thrill and confusion of Andrew's new powers and leave us all wondering what will happen to the hero as he tries to grow into them.

Big thanks to Kristianne for taking the time and interest to meet with Kyle!

Click here to read the interview.

Indies First Photos

Kyle and I were honored to participate in Indies First on Small Business Saturday. I appeared at Powell's City of Books in Portland, OR, and Kyle was at two bookstores, Queen Anne Book Company and the University Bookstore, both in Seattle, WA. Here are some pics! Chris works the info desk at Powell's Books. (With a little help from Smash.)

Kyle gears up outside the Queen Anne Book Company.

Powell's created its own lanyards for the event.

Kyle heads into Queen Anne...

Chris asks a Powell's employee for some tips.

Kyle browses the front display. (Note Smash: Trial by Fire right in front — hooray!!)

A real-life superhero: Powell's kids books expert Gloria Moe poses in Smash goggles!

Kyle is only too happy to autograph a copy for a customer.

Rear view of Chris helping a customer. (Powell's is a HUGE store and it's so easy to get lost in there!)

Kyle moves on to the University Book Store.

Kyle chats with fellow Indies First authors and customers alike.

We both had a great time and are looking forward to next year!

SMASH Supports Small Business Saturday!

Black Friday sales are great, but Small Business Saturday brings crucial attention to companies that need your financial support. Small businesses are the economic heart of any community, and we're thrilled to have a day set aside to promote them. As part of Small Business Saturday, Kyle and I are proud to participate in Indies First, a movement that has more than 300 authors helping to promote independent bookstores.

Either Kyle or I will be at these stores in person, to suggest some of our favorite books to share with loved ones on your gift-giving list:

Drop by and say hello! Click here to read more about Indies First.

And thank you for supporting small businesses and independent booksellers!