Bob Burden brings Flaming Carrot crossover preview to San Diego Comic-Con

Bob Burden will appear at San Diego Comic-Con this week with free signings, a convention-only Flaming Carrot/Santos Sisters sketch edition, and a Sunday panel honoring Steve Ditko. The crossover preview and SDCC appearances are aimed at supporting the independent Santos Sisters project and building momentum for the new book.

Why it matters: - Bob Burden is using San Diego Comic-Con to launch buzz for the upcoming Flaming Carrot/Santos Sisters crossover. - The convention-only sketch edition and fan signings are designed to help fund promotion for the independent Santos Sisters project. - The Sunday panel also gives Burden a platform to honor Steve Ditko, whose work helped shape modern comics.

What happened: - Bob Burden, creator of Flaming Carrot and Mysterymen and a longtime Gumby comics writer, is appearing at San Diego Comic-Con this week. - Burden will hold multiple free signings during the convention. - Burden is offering a special, convention-only Flaming Carrot/Santos Sisters sketch edition. - Burden will appear Sunday, July 26, on the panel “Steve Ditko: His \"Amazing\" Career” in Room 5AB. - Frank Miller, Michael Uslan and Mark Ditko will join Burden on the Ditko tribute panel.

The details: - The sketch edition is a limited, signed and numbered preview of the first issue of the Flaming Carrot/Santos Sisters crossover. - The preview copies are intended for press, distributors and select shop owners. - Only about 100 to 200 copies will be printed. - The back cover will include spaces for sketches from Burden, Greg and Fake. - Burden said surplus copies will be sold to readers and fans during his signings. - Burden said the sales will help support the book, pay for ads and possibly bring the creators to SDCC next year. - Burden said only he will be at San Diego Comic-Con this year, while Greg and Fake are expected to sketch at future convention appearances. - Burden said all money raised will go to the Santos Sisters project for advertising and convention appearances. - Burden’s scheduled appearances include Thursday, July 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cool Lines Booth #5112-5118. - Burden’s Friday, July 24 schedule includes 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Antarctic Press Booth #2309 and 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Scott Eder Galleries. - Burden will return Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Antarctic Press Booth #2309 and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cool Lines Booth #5112-5118. - Burden joked that he had also secured a side gig in National City dressing as a Pharaoh and spinning a sign in front of a used car lot.

Between the lines: - Burden’s comments frame the crossover as part nostalgia, part practical fundraising. - The limited edition format mirrors older comic promotion tactics, which Burden said helped independent creators stay afloat. - The Ditko panel links Burden’s current project to comics history and to an artist he described as both influential and personally generous. - Burden said Ditko brought emotion, verisimilitude and the angst of youth into comics through Spider-Man.

What's next: - Fans at San Diego Comic-Con can catch Burden at the listed booths throughout the weekend. - The Santos Sisters/Flaming Carrot crossover will continue to build through future convention appearances and promotional efforts. - Greg and Fake are expected to contribute sketches at later events. - Burden said the goal is to raise enough support to expand advertising and keep the project moving.

The bottom line: - Burden is turning SDCC into a launchpad for a new crossover, a limited collectible and a tribute to one of comics’ defining artists.