ITS HERE!!!!!

AFTER 4 years of waiting....
The ALL NEW BananaTail's Colorful Adventure "Young Readers" story book is REALLY HERE!

Banana Tail's Colorful Adventure has been a year in the making and is finally ready to be ordered through February's Diamond Previews catalogue who stock comic shops around the country and even around the world. Its ships in April but is available for pre-order through Previews right now and also available through Amazon - click here.

In July it will be made available through all the major book store chains, so if you don't see it, can't find it and want it tell your bookstores to order it. You will also be able to purchase the book through the order page on this web site, when it becomes available.

With the release of Banana Tail's Colorful Adventure a new direction in children's books has been developed. A 3D computer generated "young readers" graphic novel. This is not your Mom or Dad's picture book. Think "Finding Nemo" or "Up" with a trio of young animal friends in a jungle.

The art was lovingly created by Steve Akehurst and his 4th Armada crew, all of who are professors/teachers down at Full Sail University. Written by Banana Tail creator Mark McKenna and published in a hard cover format by Image Comic's Silverline Books.

Click here to check out more information on the latest for Banana Tail's Colorful Adventure

APPEARANCES ADDED!

Come see Mark appearing at:

Megacon - March 12th-14th
Megacon

More Dates Added Soon

Introducing the All New...Banana Tail Fan Club page on Facebook!

If you are on Facebook or were looking to get on Facebook, here is a great reason to get involved!

Have something to say about Banana Tail? Want to read what other fans have to say? Interested in seeing exclusive Banana Tail art and information on the upcoming book? Come join the hundred plus fans(and growing fast!) on the ever popular site. See whats (banana) shaking in the World of Banana Tail!

Click here to join Banana Tails Facebook page today!

Fun and Healthy Facts about the Banana

I wanted to share some Illo's on banana's that I have come across. These were passed on to me by A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class.

He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

Click below to read more about it.

click here to check out Fun and Healthy Facts about the Banana

Banana Tail Con Sketches and Unused Artwork

From time to time, I do sketches for fans of Banana Tail at comic cons and book fairs. Along with some of these sketches I am also letting you, the Banana Tail fan, in on some exclusive unused artwork that was created BEFORE the 1st Banana Tail storybook was created back in 2003!

click here to check them out

Of Banana Tails and Dynamic Duos: artist Mark McKenna discusses life in children's books and comic books

Artist Mark McKenna has redefined "crossover."

Known best for a 24-year inking career covering such titles as Dr. Strange: Sorceror Supreme and Countdown, Mark has moved into children's books as well.

He and his father co-created Banana Tail, an ongoing children's book series about a monkey who awakens to find that "his brown tail has turned yellow," Mark says. "He thinks that because of his love for bananas that the old adage that 'you are what eat' is coming to fruition," Mark says.

"Once he gets settled with his new banana-colored tail and realizes that he isn't turning into a banana, he and his buddies, Tic Tac the plaid zebra and Reena, a mood-color changing girl rhino get to explore friendship and the many wonders on their island. "

click here to read more of the article)

Welcome to the second feature of "Spotlight on..."

Kevin West is the man....

He's the guy who created the look of Banana Tail. Without Kev's vision Banana Tail, Reena and Tic Tac would look completely different. Kevin is the consumate artist who has drawn comic books for years for Marvel, Image, Malibu and DC and I am proud to call him "friend". Please read on so you can find out a little bit more about the artist that is the heart behind Banana Tail...

Go West Young Monkey (click here to read full article)

I'll See You In Baltimore!

As we're just under 2 months until the big 10th anniversary show, you may have noticed our on-line activity incrementing. We're sending out PRs, posting notes to blogs/feeds, and updating web pages with increasing frequency with information on guests, exhibitors, retailers, exclusives, Harvey banquet details, and anything else worthy of mention.

Click here to read more

OK online radio fans!

Yours truly, Mark McKenna was interviewed on an online radio show called FANBASE last week which is an Anime station dealing with video games and comic books.

The station is located at www.w4cy.com and the host asking the questions is cool dude Danny Ryde, along with co-hosts Evil Jeff Big B and Krysta Shepard.

Click here to hear more

Comic-book artist makes superheroes come alive
Illustrator has inked more than 7,000 pages of fantasy art

By Sheldon Scruggs
July 19, 2009
In a sense, Mark McKenna, 52, never grew up. A childhood passion for drawing superheroes is how he makes his living. But he has a dream he is inking into reality, too.

I've always liked to draw. When I was a kid on Long Island, I created and drew my own superheroes and monsters. Little did I know where that would take me. I went to the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1982.

I was 26 when I started drawing and inking professionally for Marvel Comics in Manhattan. I basically fixed up the things that were wrong with the art continuity or storytelling in comics...

Click here to read the full story

Wizard World Philadelphia 2009
Mark McKenna attended the Wizard World Philly show last weekend to spread the word of Banana Tail to the few that are still unaware of the little monkey.

A good time was had by all. Mark was even asked to do a panel on being a professional comic book artist and gave some tips on comic book inking (click here to see the pictures). Quite a few fans dressed up as their fav characters too. Quite a lot of imagination out there!

See you at Baltimore Con in October!

Click here to see more pics from the con

Leaping Off The Page
Students get the chance to connect with authors, illustrators
By Julie Huss

Last Saturday, Derry Village School Cultural Arts Committee, along with the PTA, hosted a Festival of Children's Authors and Illustrators, bringing together a long list of authors, artists, and families for a day-long session full of activities and literary fun...

Click here to read the full article

Welcome to a new feature called "Spotlight on..."

This new feature was meant to familiarize the Banana Tail fans with an artist who I've befriended and in some way smoke screened over the years. My plan is to get them acquainted with and draw or paint some aspect of the Banana Tail family of friends and tell them they will get rich off of it! Its a brilliant plan, except that now that I've mentioned it here, the banana is out of the bag(Sorry guys)!

Kidding aside, I plan on "Spotlighting on" a new artist quarterly as there are some amazingly talented people on this planet. I think that many of them aren't really "seen" enough, so in my little world of Banana Tail, Im going to try and solve that, so you are all invited to my newest Banana Tail feature "Spotlight on..."

First up...

McManus meet McKennus (click here to read full article)

New coloring book pages have been added

Hey, kids! Do you have a picture of Banana-Tail or one of his friends that you've drawn or colored? We'd love to see your pictures. So, what are you waiting for? Click the link below to start coloring away.

Click here to start your adventure

Banana Tail has joined with a new digital home!

Banana Tail has joined with a new digital home! KIDJUTSU.com is an exciting new website for kids that allows a fan to download kids comics and the original Banana Tail storybook as one of them! More then 120 "kid friendly" comic books are available to read for FREE at Kidjutsu!

Take a look at this exciting new home for kid readers! You won't be disappointed!

Banana Tail now a star on You Tube! Check it out!

Banana Tail has recently been added to youtube. Come on over and enjoy the world of Banana Tail Online.

Click here for Banana Tail video

Banana Tail was added to Kid Jutsu

"I recently joined Kid Jutsu, a website where kids can read, discover, and share comics.

You can also find the Banana Tail soft cover there to read for FREE!"

Mark McKenna: Catching A Banana By His Tail

Recently I got the opportunity to sit down with long time professional artist Mark McKenna. McKenna, a 24 year veteran of the comic book industry...."

Click here for full article

Banana Tail Reviewed at Comics Bulletin

Heres a fantastic Banana Tail hard cover book review done by reviewer Alex Rodriguez (the other A-Rod) for Comics Bulletin..."The cover of this book says it all -- this is a fun read for parents and a great time for kids! Banana Tail is the story of a monkey, who since he was a baby was told by his mother "Eat too many bananas -- That's what you will be...."

Read the whole review

Miami Book Fair...One Week Later

WOW!

It's a week after I attended my first Miami Book Fair International and I'm finally coming down from the euphoria surrounding that show. I’ve done many a comic convention in my 24 years of being a comic book pro, but at Book Fair I was a first-timer, there to promote and sell Banana Tail books to the masses. It was the 25th Anniversary of the Book Fair but the inaugural year for the Comix Galaxy to introduce fans to the power of comic books, graphic novels and other related products from our universe.

More then 300,000 book fans attended the show over the 3 day span. The Comix Galaxy tents were set up at one of the entrances, so many of the fans who attended had no choice but to walk through our world to get to the rest of the Book Fair…great idea!

Read More

Full Sail Animation Update!

For those of you who have heard me talk about the animation being done for me by Full Sail University, I was able to pry a 37 second segment of the animation project away from the overseeing teacher Steve Akehurst. Actually, Steve was kind to have an intern work through more then 5 minutes of unedited 3D animation and edit a nice little portion of the work into a nice little trailer.

You will need Quicktime to see this little gem.

A New Comic Book Interview with Mark McKenna.

Banana Tail creator Mark McKenna was interviewed recently about his work on a new Batgirl mini series for DC Comics. For the full interview click here: www.comicon.com/pulse/

Scroll down to McKENNA INKING BATGIRL & OTHER ICONS for a link to the full interview.

Mark recently visited Full Sail University down in Winter Park, Florida to do a presentation for the students on how Banana Tail was created and to discuss his lengthy career as a comic book artist. Mark discussed how the two creative forces merged in his life as well as the background on his home life and college experience.

Read more about Mark's Full Sail University adventure...

KIDS LOVE COMICS!
COMIC BOOK DINER
FCBD 2008 EDITION
by Gallagher, Sava, Faber, Gownley, & More!

Kids Love Comics! — and here are some c love kids! Featuring fun stories, how-to's, and more, by some of comics' top all-ages creators! John Gallagher's Buzzboy! Scott Sava's Dreamland Chronicles! Patrick the Wolfboy! Roboy Red! Banana Tail — and more! All hosted by Jimmy Gownley's < Rules! characters! Plus: A Super-Cool Guide and Recommended Reading List of the best in Kids' Comics! A great introduction (and helpful guide) to comics for readers of all-ages!

Mark attended Free Comic Book Day at Grasshopper Comics in Williston Park, NY, which is held on the first Saturday in May each year. This year's event was on May 3rd and it was a great success! It's a national event where comic books are given away for free across North America - what a great way to get your hands on some awesome comic books! It went so well that Grasshopper Comic's store owner John, emailed Mark to ask him to come back next year! Visit Grasshopper Comics website.

Im starting the new year by giving all my fans a gift....

I am trying out a new venue for the original Banana Tail soft cover edition on a website called WOWIO.com. All you have to do is click on the banner above and BINGO! Banana Tail pops up for you to download for
F-R-E-E! You do need to register, but its as simple as typing in a name, zip code and email. So if you have been a fan of the Banana tail website and still haven't purchased the book for your kids, do yourself a favor and download the original 32 page book, your kids will brag that you're the best parents in the world(if you aren't already)!

Nobody will bother you, no hidden gimmicks! Just good clean monkey business..... Honest!