4 NEW BEN CALDWELL SKETCHBOOKS

Ben Caldwell is a Super-Talent. His books Action Cartooning and Fantasy Cartooning are must have's. His art is a cross between animation and comics -what I call 'Cool Style' (as opposed to cutesy style). Ben is also the artist behind a unique comic series called Dare Detectives.

It's been more than 2 years since we got anything new from Ben. You see, he and his lovely wife Angela had twins last year and no doubt that's kept them very busy. Well -the drought is over and I am very excited to say Ben has released 4 new books. Check them out in store today!
1. Dare Detectives Sketches
2. Heroes
3. Female Characters
4. Uberportfolio featuring art from earlier out of print sketchbooks in a new giant format.

VINYL GRAFFITI ART SHOW AND GAMES! FEB 9

The Labyrinth would like to invite everyone out there to our first submission based art show -Vinyl Graffiti. The show is looking quite good at this time. We are still waiting for the last of the submissions to come in. The deadline for anyone that is interested in doing a piece is next weekend. Just email me to say you are interested (info@thelabyrinthstore.com) and we can take it from there.

The Art Show is on Saturday Feb 9th. 7-10pm. That's in 2 weekends from now!

What you should expect to see is a plethora of really cool, imaginative and interesting paintings, drawings and other creative systems applied to old record album covers. The subjects are diverse, but what ties every piece together is the format. Many of the pieces will be up for sale - so if you're in the market for some original art - this will be your chance. Many of the artists will be there for the evening to talk to.

FREE PRIZES AND GAMES:
To help make the night extra fun for everyone -The Labyrinth will be handing out over 50 prizes for folks participating in what we call Character Design Face Off's. Here's how it works. We will have two easils set up where two people (one of which can be YOU!) will face off against each other for fun and prizes. They will have to draw a character design on the spot, based on a subject we pick. For example ' Moose in a beaver suit' or 'Troll in an evening gown on fire' and other stupid ideas. The goal is to have fun and laughs - all a while earning prizes for the winners. Winners will be decided by those attending via the sophisticated system we call Applause. You don't have to be an artist to join in the games -so come one, come all and good luck! The silliness will be repeated every 3 minutes - so as many of you can take a turn as possible.

Please feel free to let friends,relatives and other interested parties know about the event.

NEW THIS COMING WEDNESDAY !

COMING THIS WEEk:
ART OF WQRLD OF WARCRAFT

ALSO COMING THIS WEDNESDAY!

ADVENTURES OF RED SONJA TP VOL 02 SHE DEVIL WITH SWORD
ALBERT & THE OTHERS GN
ALEX RAYMOND HIS LIFE AND ART HC
BATMAN THE MAN WHO LAUGHS HC
CASANOVA TP VOL 01 LUXURIA
COMPLETE JACK KIRBY VOL 4 1947C TP
DOCTOR WHO TALKING TARDIS MONEY BANK -BACK IN STOCK
ELKS RUN GN
GI JOE STORM SHADOW TP VOL 01 SOLO
GOOD GIRL ART HC & SC
HELL GIRL GN VOL 01
HEROES HC - back in stock
ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE #21
LOVE SHARE GN
NEGIMA GN VOL 16 - finally !
NEW AVENGERS PREM HC ILLUMINATI
NEW AVENGERS TRANSFORMERS TP
OH MY GODDESS VOL 28 RTL TP
OUTSIDERS CHECKMATE CHECKOUT TP
RT COMICS TP VOL 01 YEAR ONE
UNCANNY X-MEN TP RISE & FALL OF THE SHIAR EMPIRE
VAMPIRELLA BLOOD LUST TP
X-MEN HC ENDANGERED SPECIES
XOMBIE TP VOL 01 REANIMATED
YOUNG AVENGERS HC

CHARACTER DESIGN FACE OFF = PRIZES @ vinyl Grafffiti Show

We are excited to announce the next art show : Vinyl Graffiti will be held at the store on Saturday Feb 9th at 7-10 pm. The show will feature a collection of assorted illustrations done overtop old album (lp) covers. This is a goup show -featuring many artist that have each contirubuted a piece. The show is guaranteed to be of interest to anyone that enjoys seeing the creative spirit and imagination that makes each artist unique. Many of the artists who have contributed to the show will be on hand to meet and greet. Also - many of the pieces will be on sale.

Since this is the first art show we are holding that is not tied to a book - we wanted to do something extra special. What we came up with is the Character Design Face Off. Every 3 minutes we plan on giving out a prize (t-shirts, etc..). Essentially it will work like this. We will set up a couple of easils, back to back in the store and every 3 minutes 2 people (yes -this could be you) will face off against each other - to draw a fun character design. As an example, someone might yell out - Vikings in Pyjamas. Then the two drawers will have to draw for 3 minutes -not know what the other is doing. Meanwhile, the people attending the art show in the store that night -will be able to watch everything that's happening. At the end of the alloted time, 1 peson will get a prize based on the response their drawing gets from the spectators. We hope to give away at least 50 prizes. You don't have to be a great artist -but you do need to be in the mood to have some fun. If this works out as we hope, we intend to run similar games at future events.

For anyone that might want to contribute to the artshow - the deadline is fast approaching. All you need to do to enter - is to Email us a picture of the record cover before you modify it

Please let folks know about this event on your blogs, facebook or via email -because the more people attend, the more fun the games will be.

NOTE: THE SHOW STARTS AT 7PM -BUT THE CHARACTER DESIGN FACE OFF STARTS @ 8PM.

NEW THIS COMING WEDNESDAY

ANNIHILATION CONQUEST HC BOOK 1
AP HOW TO COLOR FOR COMICS SUPERSIZED TP
BOMB QUEEN TP VOL 03 BOMBSHELL
FINAL FANTASY VII PLAY ARTS AF ASST
HER MAJESTYS DOG GN VOL 01
HULK VISIONARIES PETER DAVID TP VOL 05
JLA THE HYPOTHETICAL WOMAN TP
JUXTAPOZ FEB 2008 VOL 15 #2
KAGETORA GN VOL 08
LEFT ON MISSION TP
LONE RANGER TP VOL 01
LOVE & ROCKETS DICKS & DEEDEES HC
MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #4 (OF 5)
ROUGH STUFF #7
SHOWCASE PRESENTS AQUAMAN TP VOL 02
TALES OF THE NEW GODS T
THEREFORE REPENT
TRANSFORMERS TARGET 2006
TRIGUN MAXIMUM TP VOL 12
ULTIMATE VISION TP

UWE IS PENCAKED

Just got an email from Uwe Heidschotter in Germany. His new website www.Pencaked.com is now up and running. Uwe worked in animation and his art is really fluid and fun.

You might know Uwe from the pages of Swallow 3 (in stock). He also has a terrific blog which is linked from his website.

He also has a terrific book out - but it was limited to 150 copies and the only way to get it is via his website.

If you want to be inspired today- check him out at www.Pencaked.com

Dean Yeagle in Paris

Just wanted to pass this along to anyone that might be at Angouleme in the next week, or in Paris in the next month.

Dean Yeagle- animator, illustrator and all around nice guy - will be in France this coming week for the largest BD (french graphic novel) convention. His sketches will also be in a gallery in Paris.

He will be there to promote his French Published book "Melange". if you can't make it to France, we still have a few copies of the book in stock.

COMING THIS WEEK -BONE 7, COSMIC MOTORS..

Before jumping to the new items coming on Wednesday - i wanted to mention a couple of new books.

The first book is Dream Worlds by Hans Bacher. Hands down, a really remarkable book that can teach you a lot about colour and scene composition in film. Hans has worked on many classic films including Mulan, Alladin, Little Mermaid and Lilo and Stitch. The book basically looks at visual development in film. Being an artist, I am usually not too worried about the writing in a book, so long as there are plenty of pretty pictures to study (and by the way -there is tons of eye candy in this one). Having said all that, the information that accompanies all the wonderful imagery is invaluable to anyone that's ever thought of becoming an art director or wanted to see first hand what kind of thinking goes into doing art direction at a feature level. The book is in store now.

The Second book I want to mention, will be in the store on Thursday. It's called Cosmic Motors - and it's the latest book from Design Studio Press (Skillful Huntsmen, etc..). Now I haven't actually seen inside the book yet -but it's full of hundreds of sketches and illustrations of futuristic vehicles that must be seen to be appreciated. Daniel Simon is a really talented guy and the book is definately something to be excited about if you love creative industrial design.

Finally a reminder: I would like to mention that the New Gnomon DVDs are now on display in the store. Feel Free to stop by and take a peak. If you want to get ahead in areas like Matt Painting, Painter, Photoshop, Concept Design, Maquette building, Comic art or Creature Design - you got to check these out. You can spend years toiling -trying to figure things out for yourself, or you can speed the process along by seeing how the professionals (Syd Mead, Ian McCaig, Scott Robertson,David Finch, etc..) approach their work.

Coming on Wednesday.
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #1 -back in stock (finally!)
ARMY OF TWO GN
BONE COLOR ED SC VOL 07 GHOST CIRCLES
CANTARELLA VOL 9
CASE CLOSED GN VOL 21
CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED DELUXE HC VOL 01 WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CRUSHING LOVE GN
DOCTOR WHO FLIGHT CONTROL TARDIS - yes it's back: don't miss it again!
DOOM PATROL TP VOL 06 PLANET LOVE - three cheers for Grant M!
EC ARCHIVES CRIME SUSPENSTORIES HC VOL 1
FANTASTIC FOUR AND POWER PACK DIGEST TP
FIGHT FOR TOMORROW TP
HEROES FOR HIRE TP VOL 03 WORLD WAR HULK
HONEY SENIOR DARLING JUNIOR VOL 1 GN
HOUSE OF M HC
HULK PREM HC THE END - by Dale Keown (if you love the hulk - this is one of the classics)
ILL BE YOUR SLAVE GN
ILLUSTRATION NOW VOL 2 SC
KING OF THE LAMP GN
LAST MUSKETEER SC
LOST AT SEA NEW ED GN -back in stock by Scott Pilgrim's Brian O'
LOVE SHARE GN
MODERN MASTERS SC VOL 15 MARK SCHULTZ
MOME GN VOL 10
OH MY GODDESS EVERYONE HAS WINGS BELLDANDY PVC STATUE
PARTY GN
PINUP ART OF DAN DECARLO SC VOL 02
REFLECTIONS THE ARTWORK OF KOSEN
SCHOOL RUMBLE GN VOL 08
SHOJO BEAT FEB 08
STRAWBERRY PANIC MANGA
THUNDERBOLTS BY ELLIS VOL 1 FAITH IN MONSTERS TP
WALKIN BUTTERFLY GN VOL 2
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #3
X-FACTOR PREM HC MADROX MULTIPLE CHOICE

THE SALE MUST GO ON!

The sale on regular stock is over -but the sale on select graphic novels and manga continues.

Get 40% OFF THE US COVER PRICE - on hundreds of select graphic novels. More to be added next week.

Get 20-50% off on over 1000 select manga - details in store.

PLUS: Select artbooks still on sale. John Singer Sargent, Art of Open Season, Justice N Mercy Sketchbook and much more..

Finally - we just found out that we were picked as 'Hero' by Torontoist.com. Part of their Best of Toronto for 2007.

http://torontoist.com/2007/12/hero_the_labyri.php

NEW ARRIVALS THIS WEDNESDAY JAN 9

30 DAYS OF NIGHT TP VOL 08 RED SNOW
ADVENTURES OF HERGE CREATOR OF TINTIN HC
BASTARD TP VOL 16
BLACK HOLE COLLECTED SC
BPRD TP VOL 07 GARDEN OF SOULS
CONAN BLOOD STAINED CROWN AND OTHER STORIES TP
DOCTOR WHO ELECTRONIC SONIC SCREWDRIVER -back in stock
EMILY STRANGE SKELE-POSSE MILES PLUSH
EMILY STRANGE SKELE-POSSE MYSTERY PLUSH
EMILY STRANGE SKELE-POSSE NEE CHEE PLUSH
EMILY STRANGE SKELE-POSSE SABBATH PLUSH
ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 04
FIRST LOVE SISTERS GN VOL 01
GHOST RIDER TP VOL 03 APOCALYPSE SOON
GRIFTER AND MIDNIGHTER TP
INU YASHA TP VOL 32
JSA PRESENTS TP VOL 02 STARS AND STRIPES
LENORE VINYL FIGURE
NEW WARRIORS TP VOL 01 DEFIANT
PURGATORY KABUKI VOL 1 GN
RED RIVER GN VOL 20
SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOL 1 TP
SHIKI TSUKAI GN VOL 02
SHOWCASE PRESENTS ROBIN THE BOY WONDER TP VOL 01
SHOWCASE PRESENTS TP SGT ROCK VOL 01
UNCANNY X-MEN TP EXTREMISTS
VOICEFUL GN VOL 01
WALLFLOWER GN VOL 14
X-MEN TP BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
YAKITATE JAPAN TP VOL 09

NEW INSTRUCTIONAL DVDS & STEVE RUDE

Just got in a whack load of awesome Gnomon Workshop DVDS. Everything from matt painting, corel painter, rendering, maquette building, character/creature design, comic art and more..

As compared to movie DVDs -this series isn't cheap, but as compared to the cost of education at colleges or private school -the DVDs by Gnoman are a real bargain. The best part is you get to learn from artists at the top of their fields at your own pace. Stop by the store and have a look -or go online at www.thegnomonworkshop.com and preview them for yourself. Our store prices are the same as on the website, except you don't pay shipping and if you buy 2 or more, we'll take off 10%.

2 new dvds:
David Finch has a new DVD showing his techqnique for pencilling. then there's a DVD by Steve Firchow showing how he coloured Dave's piece in photoshop.

Alvin Lee (street fighter) also has a how to dvd out in the series.

Finally a word about Steve Rude's new book: Artist in Motion. It is so so cool. if you like comics, animation and illustration - this book combines it all really really well. He's a real solid draftsman. He's also genuinely passionate about drawing and it shows in the interviews throughout the book. Having said that -the art is gorgeous and really worth checking out. There's a mix of sketches, paintings, and comic art.

NEW YEAR, NEW BABY, NEW HOURS & the SALE GOES ON

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a terrific holiday. We were closed yesterday for New Years Day. Stayed at home to enjoy some family time. Our newest family member was born on Dec 26 (boxing day baby). His name is Jordan and he's a cutie-pie.

The sleepless nights have begun - especially for Jessica who has taken on the added function of Milk Factory. Overall though -we are very lucky - he only cries when he needs something, like food or changing. Like Nathan before him, little Jordan has a pretty powerfull neck often lifting his head to look at us and the world around him.

I will try and post an image or two shortly. For those who would like to see him, or his mommy - they will be in the store during the last week of the month.

NOW TO BUSINESS:
BOXING SALE CONTINUES TO SUNDAY JAN 6. the boxing sale will end on January 6 - if you have time and want to save a bit of money, come on by. NEW ARRIVALS THIS FRIDAY.

NEW HOURS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.

Mondays: Closed for family time.
Tuesday-Thursday 12-7:30
Fridays: 12-8:00
Saturdays: 11-8:00
Sundays: 12 -7:00

*NOTE: If you need to come outside these hours because of your schedule to pick up a specific item - please call ahead and we can try and book you an appointment to meet your needs.