Some "the Experts"-related scribblin'

Happy Holidays from "the Experts!"

"Super World" in January '08 PREVIEWS!

"Super World"
by Kenn Minter & Clarence Pruitt
Published by Near Mint Press
24 pages, Black and White

- January 2008 PREVIEWS
- Item code is JAN083809
- Page 319
- Ships in March 2008

"Super World" is a new, one-shot anthology featuring short, snappy, satirical tales of self-absorbed and pathetic superheroes. In "Super World" you'll meet "Incredo-Lad," "the Z-Squad," "the ZZZip," Love Lantern,' plus many more!

From the same creative team that brought you "the Experts!"

Tell your favorite comic book shopkeeper to order hundreds of copies!

Thanks,
Kenn Minter

an unlettered page

Another scene from the upcoming "the Experts" trade paperback

Some inked panels from "the Experts" trade paperback

"it sure is a SUPER WORLD!"

Clarence and I have recently put together a collection of tongue-in-cheek, short, comic book stories called "it sure is a SUPER WORLD!" These stories originally appeared as back-up features in the first 3 "the Experts" comic books. Hopefully, we'll be able to offer this book soon through DIAMOND's catalog. So, if you like your superhero comics short-n-sweet, with a touch of satire, and you don't like to keep up with on-going series... ""it sure is a SUPER WORLD!" is just the book for you!

More details as they transpire!

-Kenn

"the Experts" at the Nashville Horror and Comic Book Convention

Howdy all.

I just spent the weekend in Nashville, TN. attending and promoting my comic book series at the "Nashville Horror and Comic Book Convention." It was a blast.

I met several nice people and made many new contacts. In regards to where the promoters of the convention placed me and my table, I got really lucky. The other vendors and presenters near me were extremely pleasant and down-to-earth folks. Across from my table was none other than Jackson Bostwick. Who? Bostwick played "Captain Marvel" on the CBS Saturday morning show, "SHAZAM!," in the early 1970s. He was a great guy and I talked to him quite a bit over the two days of the convention. He had his three-year-old daughter with him... who I ended up baby-sitting periodically when Bostwick would disappear to go hob-nob.

The star of the show was B-Movie/TV legend, John Saxon. He still looked just as intimidating as he did in every movie and TV show he appeared in in the 70s. I didn't get a chance to talk with him... but others assured me he was a really nice and charming man.

I ended up selling over 20 copies of "the Experts" and gave several copies and contact info to a marketing guy from Marvel Comics. Who knows? I think I blew about $150 on comic books and action figures.

All in all... it was a very fun and informative time. I'll definitely do more conventions in the near future.

-Kenn

"the Experts" in Nashville, TN.!!

Howdy, folks. This weekend, at the "October Comic and Horror Festival" in Nasville, TN. (on the Tennessee State Fairgrounds), I'll be selling and signing copies of "the Experts" comic book series. If you are in the Nashville region, I hope to see you there!

-Kenn Minter

October Comic and Horror Festival

Tennessee State Fair

DIRECTIONS

another panel from the upcoming "the Experts" graphic novel/trade paperback

a panel from the upcoming "the Experts" trade paperback

Finally! "the Experts #3" available ONLINE!

"the Experts #3" is finally available for purchase through comixpress.com's online store. Pick up your copy here today!

the Experts #3 in store this month (AUGUST!)

"the Experts" #3 hits comic book store shelves this month, August 2007! Keep your eyes peeled for a copy. If your favorite store doesn't carry it... ask the owner to order some from Diamond Comics. "the Experts" is published by Near Mint Press.

Splash panel

Here's a splash panel from the forthcoming "the Experts" trade paperback/graphic novel.

-Kenn

the Experts in People Magazine (Australia)

Recently, the news editor, Dann Leonard, of People Magazine (Australia) requested that I send him a couple of promo issues of "the Experts." Today, he sent me the page (attached) of the magazine that features a review of the series which will be in the July 30th issue.

Pretty cool.

-Kenn

No "the Experts" #4, but...

... there will be a trade paperback collecting the first 4 issues! Yes, we have decided... since the single issues are not selling as well as we had hoped... and by the advice of our rep at Diamond Comics Distribution... we will be releasing a trade paperback/graphic novel of all-new material once or twice a year.

So, "the Experts" are not going away... they'll just be coming to you in a new format.

Don't forget, "the Experts" #3 will be in comic book stores this August... and look for the trade paperback to be released later this year.

Thanks,
Kenn

Ninja Witch's new costume?

No, not really. But... she does appear in this costume in the 4th issue of "the Experts."

-Kenn

random panels from the Experts #4

Ninja Witch & Free Mary pin-up

Here's a black-n-white and a color pin up of "Ninja Witch" and "Free Mary" pencilled by crazy Clarence Pruitt and messily inked by messy ol'me.

The Gals are wearing their special battle gear as seen in "the Experts #3."

Don't forget, "the Experts #3" is now available to order from Diamond's PREVIEWS June 2007 catalog. It will be available in stores in August 2007.

Thanks,
Kenn

the experts #4, page 9 (inks)

Here's an inked page from "the Experts #4." Perfectly pencilled by Clarence Pruitt... and inked by lil' ol' me.

-Kenn

"the Experts" #3 in June 2007's PREVIEWS Catalog

"the Experts" #3 in June 2007's PREVIEWS Catalog

• JUN073767 F THE EXPERTS #3 (MR) (page 326)

"What's the story with the Experts gaudy new
threads... and god-awful new attitudes?

Dive head-first into the mysteriously creepy origin of
the draconian Doctor Delta.

Also, as a back-up feature, travel back in time to the
age of the Gods and meet the luscious Love Lantern!
Criminals can't resist her!"

• By Kenn Minter & Clarence Pruitt

• Color cover • 32 pages (black and white) • $3.49 (cover price)

Flying Mice

An exciting new challenge for the Experts in the upcoming fourth issue!

a scene from "the Experts #3"

an excerpt from the Experts #4

Newsarama reviews "the Experts"

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: THE EXPERTS
by Ryan McLelland

The Experts #1 and 2
Near Mint Press - $3.00 each
Written by: Kenn Minter
Illustrated by: Clarence Pruitt
Website: http://www.kennminter.com

Rating: 4 stars (of 4)

With Kenn Minter’s The Experts you get a feeling that this superteam is called The Experts just like you call a big guy ‘Tiny’. But when you put together a team with old pros like Emerald Yeti and Doctor Delta with such nuebs as Ninja Witch, Free Mary, and the very dressed Naked Man one cannot expect to be as great as the Avengers, the JLA, or even the Great Lakes Avengers. Inanity runs rampant in this superb series that highlights what those who think they are great do in incredible situations…even if they aren’t that great.

The first issue features a trio of stories that introduces the newest team of Experts and also a shrink that caters to the problems of superhero and villain alike. The best story features IncredoLad – a youth in a small town that wears glasses and a bowl-cut ala Guy Gardner to preserve his secret identity. However everyone in this quiet town already knows that the unnamed teen is also the superhero IncredoLad.

The comedy moves forward when young Tina Tang falls into the river and starts drowning. All would have been fine with ol’ bowlcut running off to become IncredoLad to save the day except that Chet has to come over and provoke IncredoLad. Chet tells him to hurry and save Tina while IncredoLad defends everything from his eyeglasses, his bowlcut, and even a leg brace that appears out of nowhere that all but proves he CANNOT be IncredoLad. By the time he comes up with an excuse to get away from Chet (Chet and Tina’s friends all know he is going to change into his costume), IncredoLad runs into the woods, takes off his sweater, and finds that he left his costume at home. The situations get worse and worse as the reader gets a sinking feeling that Tina better learn to swim very quickly.

Issue two focuses more on The Experts themselves, namely Ninja Witch and Free Mary who are forced to take down the evil telepath Silver Muse. It seems that Silver Muse is able to control the minds of men and therefore only Ninja Witch and Free Mary can save the day. Not only that, the Experts’ leader Frost Queen points out, but the duo’s action figures (with exceptionally quality boobs!) are the lowest selling of the entire Experts line, so the two have to get out there more, fight more crime, thus causing more kids to want to go out and buy more of their toys. The two are off to fight Silver Muse, but the cattiness of two gals going to fight some evil bitch makes the comic sillier and better as it goes along.

Somewhat reminiscent of Bob Burden’s Mystery Men but with a devilishly sharp wit, The Experts is a perfect indy book that continues to throw pleasure at you page after page. From Clarence Pruitt’s sharp pencils to Minter’s ability to hit everything what would be wrong with every young superhero in the world, the Experts is truly a fun read that is destined to become a fave of every indy comic reader. It’s fun and it makes fun of all we behold, from masks to breasts to hopefully learning one day what Naked Man’s powers exactly are. The Experts is one book that indy readers should not miss.

More "Experts" Fan Mail

"Howdy, Kenn!

Great series! I have really enjoyed the first two books and cannot wait until the third issue is released. Speaking of, do you have an anticipated release date at this time?

The story-telling and artwork are a wonderful compliment to each other and already I can notice a progression in the backgrounds with the use of more gray tones, adding more weight or dimension to the art. I hate to draw (no pun intended) comparisons, but Darwyn Cooke and Bruce Timm come to mind, perhaps Allred also.

You have a light-hearted story telling style that is a relief to some of the more "over-inflated" story arcs that seem too prevalent in many of today's tales. I mean that as a compliment. With your books, the reader need not be concerned nor will he/she get too bogged down with continuity, history, etc. . . but will simply pick up a read that harkens back to a Golden or Silver Age book, while more sophisticated with a contemporary twist, complete in every single issue. It seems you have taken a very modern approach to getting issues printed and distributed and hopefully that will work out well for you, the creator, and myself the customer/reader.

Love the Experts,

Rob"

"the Experts" Fan Mail & Fan Art

"Hey Kenn,

My name is Brent Schoonover. Last Wednesday I visited my local
comic store and found a copy of issue 2 of The Experts. I loved the art
style and Kirby references so much I had to give it a shot. I'm glad I
did. I loved the book and plan on having my store get the book on my
pull list. Hopefully they can get issue one in store otherwise I'll get
one from you personally. Congrats on a great book and looking forward
to more.

ps- I loved the book so much I did a quick sketch of the Ninja Witch,
which I later realized those were throwing stars on her hat, so those
are wrong. Sadly I also drew it on the back of another comic script.

-Brent"

... a scene from the experts #4

We want your Experts fan art!

Hey, do you draw? If so, we'd like to see your Experts fan art! Draw/interpret the Experts characters any way you like... and we'll post the results here. E-mail your art to: kennminter@yahoo.com. Let us know if you have a blog or website... and we'll plug that too!

the Experts Theme Song!

Over to the right of the blog, you'll find a link to the new "the Experts Theme Song!" The song lyrics were written by myself and the music was created and composed by my pal, Jim Shaw. It's a wacky tune which also functions as the team's roll call. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments.

-Kenn Minter

the Experts in the News

This article about the Experts ran in a local paper ("the Lexington Weekly") about a year ago. Click on the image to read the piece.

... and now some random scenes from "the Experts #3"