Posted in: Comics | Tagged: ben templesmith, Butch Adams, Comics, Joshua Hale Fialkov, steve niles, Very Big Monster Show

From Comic Book Artist To Organic Ice Cream Guy…

Back in 2001/2002 when I was first getting into freelance writing I was working for a small comic news site that I had created and ended up interviewing Steve Niles. This was about 6 months before the 30 Days of Night movie deal. He was hyping the Image Comics series Fused and once done he told me about the message board on his website.

The amazing thing was the number of regular members from that board that went on to do work in the industry. I made friends with Ben Templesmith, Nat Jones, Jay Fotos, Nick Stakal, Ben Roman, Dan Taylor, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Szimon Kudransky, Illka Lessonen and the late Josh Medors. I'm sure I'm missing some more.

Another one of the artists that I got to know there is Butch Adams. Butch and Steve teamed up in 2004 to do a one-shot book called The Very Big Monster Show. The synopsis for which: The classic old monsters of Creepyville are feeling their age. Media-savvy kids have turned their back on vampires, mummies and sea creatures in favor of newer, more gruesome characters – except for Theo, a boy who still believes in their ability to frighten. Theo helps these old monsters regain their confidence, along with their ability to frighten us all. 

I always loved Butch's art. I have an original drawing of The Thing from him somewhere in my unpacked boxes. Butch and I would catch up when we'd see each other at shows, but I must admit that it's been awhile. So I was a little surprised when I saw a link to a Monterey County Weekly story about a new Organic ice cream shop and there was Butch holding up a cone.

Kai Lee Creamery opened up in the American Tin Cannery and offers healthy ice cream. Butch's oldest daughter suffers from food allergies so he took to making ice cream she could eat and it was a hit. So after retiring from munitions removal at Fort Ord, Butch needed something new to do so his wife suggested opening up an ice cream shop. Now the store named after his two daughters (their middle names) offers organic, corn-free, gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free, GMO-free, all-natural, locally sourced and handmade ice cream. The only thing not free is the ice cream.

So if you are in Pacific Grove, CA and are looking for a treat… go check out Kai Lee Creamery and say 'hi' to Butch. I bet he's sketching in between customers.

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