OPEN MOUTH and INSERT FOOT
Here's something.
So I created a 6 page comic based on one of a famous horror novelist's stories... I really admire this man and the story was so wonderful and the idea for the comics so great, that I blinded myself to the fact that EVEN with writing my own dialogue and changing the action, the story was HIS. I infringed on his copyright even if I had no malicious intent or desire for financial gain.
Back in June (July?) I posted the comic online and got various notes and comments telling me I was ripping the author off and I should take it down. After a bit of deluded reluctance I did, and someone suggested I send the comic to said author and see what he had to say. I packaged the comic up with a nice letter to the writer and that was that.
Yesterday, I receieved a letter from the writer's attorney's informing me that while the author "admired my enthusiasm," he could not grant me the right to use his story in any way, shape or form. I emailed the attorneys last night apologizing for the incident making sure that the author bore no ill will to me and destroyed the comic.
If I hadn't gotten over my stubborness I'd be in a court of law.
Boy, that was close.
INSERT FOOT
Maybe if you would stop fucking talking for one goddamn second today and take a breath or maybe if you quit being so goddamn fucking abrasive to everyone that walked or called into the office then maybe just maybe people wouldn't fucking get on your nerves even though you're goddamn getting on everyone else's you loud insensitive harsh prick.
If you give me a goddamn ulcer by the time I'm thirty I'll fucking ram my cordless mouse down your throat.
OPEN MOUTH
Get out get out get out.
Been waiting for the office to clear out at night so I can print up copies of HEARTBREAK hassle free, but for some reason everyone around this joint has decided to develop a work ethic. Why now?
Regardless, the dummy I created of the mini really looks swank on the desert paper... James' artwork pops and the book layout is nice - just needs some font size tweaking and it'll be aces.
Robyn Chapman dropped off my contributor copies of TRUE PORN last night and I have to say, they did a fantastic job on the printing/presentation of this book. I thought it was going to be a stapled/large style mini, but this looks like a book you can sell in Borders' aisles (assuming they'd sell a book of sex stories, right?). The stories are very diverse... standouts include Laurenn McCubbin's PERFECT which was sweet and sexy and a little sad; Thor Jensen's entry which was incredibly "haikuesque".... probably my favorite piece in the book. And of course, it's always good to see Sean Bieri get more exposure... especially in a book that allows for good comedic outlet. It was also endearing to see the sheer glut of female cartoonists reveling in the topic - from Vanessa Davis to Tatiana Gill to well, many, many more... the book kicks off with a really fun story by Josh Simmons (complete with sound effects like "humpa humpa") and ends with some really funny personal-style bios (my only nitpick of the book.... the justification of the type here leaves some eye-jarring spaces). My story, "Shomer Negiah", came out a wee bit dark... but it's a bit out of body inducing to finally see it in print... hm.
Dean and I have started talking about plotting a new project for the Secret Publisher we're working for. I like working with Dino... he brings out the good writer in me. Here's to some more collaborating!
Speaking of writing, came up with a great idea for a whodunnit/HECTIC PLANET stylee series called DINERTOWN. Time to flex them pitch muscles.
Rumor has it I'm getting an intern here at the day job... I feel all important like now. Then again, does some poor kid from Parsons really wanna slave away on medical forms for six months?
Some DVD goodness hit the street yesterday - THE ANIMAL HOUSE DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION EDITION and THE TWO TOWERS. I have to say I'm pretty dorked about both... I LOVE the HOUSE. My newfound geek for John Belushi roles has endeared this movie to me forever... I'm still hesitant about seeing 1941 after rolling around naked in HOUSE and BLUES BROTHERS, but I suppose I can push it off by immersing my pasty white body in the new DVD for a bit. THE TWO TOWERS? Fuck you, I like these movies. I'll buy it and watch it.
Good Lord, I just saw this.
"This is a fairly straightforward case of the government, in this case Alabama, endorsing one religion over others. The federal courts, who have supremacy over the state courts, have ordered the Ten Commandments out of the courthouse. That order is being enforced, and it's really pretty straightforward. I don't think there is any hope to this further lawsuit. I think that the court is really making sure that its order is enforced. "
Also, Larry Young talks about his involvement on the development of a PRISONER reality show over at Newsarama. This would be one of the best things on TV if it happened... I dont know how many of you recall, but back around 1989-1990 there was a short-lived "reality show" called THE INTERCEPTOR. When the glut of these new reality based shows came out, I was hoping to see this show come back into production... it was basically THE RUNNING MAN in a small town. From the introduction:
"Interceptor was an adventure game show with a difference - it had the look and the pace of a drama, it was shot entirely on location and unlike any other TV game show, it featured a villain - the Interceptor, in the central role.
The format of the show was a highly sophisticated version of the children's old favourite game of hide and seek; two contestants, a male and a female, working as a team attempt to survive and outmanoeuvre their enemy - the Interceptor.
The Interceptor was a mysterious and menacing character dressed all in black, who moved around at great speed in his black helicopter (registration - G-MEAN - how apt!) piloted by his loyal servant `Mikie`. He had alternative modes of transport - namely a black Maserati Biturbo Spyder sports car and a black Kawasaki ZX10 motorbike - these had personalised number plates INT 1 and INT 2 - made up especially for the show. His quest was to find and intercept the contestants and to `zap` their backpacks with his laser projector, which was worn on his arm, making it impossible for them to claim their prize. Although not declared in the programme, I have subsequently been informed that The Interceptor was only allowed 20 `zaps` per show. He had a digital readout on his laser projector which informed him of how many shots he had left."
"The contestants were in radio contact with each other and with
their guide - presenter, Annabel Croft. Annabel directed them
first towards their keys and then on to a suitable meeting place
to exchange keys. They had 40 minutes to find their partners
key and to meet, and providing they overcame all transport
and orienteering problems and avoided being "zapped" by the
laser projector, they triumphed over The Interceptor."
Who the fuck cares about AMERICAN IDOL? Bring back the INTERCEPTOR.
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Okay, I was set to write more PLUTONIAN and then THIS caught my eye, permanently blinding it:
Swimsuit issue stars Albert Einstein
Magazine of fun facts branches out ... a little
By Todd Leopold
"(CNN) -- Let Sports Illustrated have Vendela and Tyra Banks. Mental Floss will take Eleanor Roosevelt and Salvador Dali. The magazine, devoted to providing facts and information in an entertaining setting, is putting out its first swimsuit issue.
"Our goal from the beginning has been to blur the line between education and entertainment," said Will Pearson, publisher and co-founder of the magazine. With swimsuit issues so popular among periodicals, Pearson and his crew decided "why not have one with our goal of education?"
OPEN MOUTH
House of Twelve comics proudly announces the return of it's flagship anthology title with House of Twelve Ver. 2.0! More pages, more artists, more stupefying retardedness! "It's interesting to see what happens when you take New York's new comics underground and force them at gun point to work in a specific genre, and one that they have spent so much time running from, it really creates not only a interesting contrast, but a some funny results to boot." says HO12 creator/publisher/artist Cheese Hasselberger.
House of Twelve Comics was created in the fall of 2001 with the first release of House of Twelve #1, sadly the debut was overshadowed by the events of September 11th, 2001. The book was re-released in early 2002 to decent sales through local New York stores, online sales and multiple convention appearances. Speaking of HO12, Cheese recollects, "House of Twelve #1 was a test to judge if anyone actually wanted to see the stuff we were doing, and much to my surprise, more people then I think any of us expected, actually did!"
Recently House of Twelve co-published another anthology comic entitled
MAULED! which compiles true stories of people getting attacked at zoos with upstart Manual Comics. "Brian (Musikoff, Manual Comics publisher) came to me saying he had a great idea for a book, but needed more cartoonists to do it right, I at the time had been organizing the BBM Comic jams here in New York so I knew plenty of eager artists. We combined resources and I think
put out one of my favorite small press books of the year," says Cheese, "I'm hoping that having the two books out this summer with a little luck (and some verses from the Necronomicon) one will fuel the other and soon I'll be sitting on a comic book publishing empire!"
With this latest installment, Cheese recruits some of the best and brightest in New York's emerging underground community. Danny Hellman, K. Thor Jensen, Jenny Gonzalez, Neil Kleid, Miss Lasko-Gross are along for the ride this time, along with cover artists Dave McKenna and Cartoon Network's Jody Schaeffer (creator, Low Brow). It's low-low $3.95 cover price and 48 power packed pages should propel it's debut at this years EXPO show in Bethesda like a atomic rocket streaking Heavenward towards it's eventual collision with the Almighty himself, striking him down and claiming sovereignty over all of creation!
For more information, check out www.houseoftwelve.com
OPEN MOUTH
Dear lord, is it 430 pm already? Wherethefuck did my day go?
New ideas popping up all day long. Diner whodunnits. Robots in lost lands on quests with jungle girls. Peanut butter pizza.
Heinekens sound nice right about now.
Head down. Blood pressure up.
OPEN MOUTH
So here I sit. Waiting. Just waiting.
I'm between three major projects here at work... nothing to do until the art comes in for it (logos and whatnot) so in the meantime... nothing.
But really? Not.
SPX is two weeks aways, folks. I have two minis to finish printing and stapling. The RANT covers are at the printer and tonight I should be prepping HEARTBREAK. I think I have the paper picked out and it should look comicriffic. Then its a matter of folding and stapling tiny little books...!
Beyond that it's insanity around here. Putting the final touches on the Big Secret Project outline that's been approved - Dino and I finished the plot and it's rock em sock em... on to the script! Also, trying to get back on the original secret project and the second issue of THE BIG KAHN for Max. Got some BROWNSVILLE pages from Jake and there are several changes that need to be made, but we'll get 'em.
Sunburned like a motherfucker today - spent the day on Long Beach with Devorah yesterday and i guess the spf 30 is shit. My whole side looks like a side of beef. Mmmmm beef.
Around the comics news horn, the second round of Comic Book Idol is up and running. Go check out some interesting artwork by some wanna bes. MY money is in Scherberger.
Newsarama reports that THE ETERNAL and THE CREW have been cancelled. Damn, that was quick.
Conversely, various books are starting to get pimped for SPX. I can't wait to see Zack Soto's STUDYGROUP and Secret Voice. Dave Lewis also has a few things showing up here.
Y'know what makes me laugh? This. I don't know why.
INSERT FOOT
Still to racked to get back into PLUTONIAN... I think it's gonna be after SPX. So in the meantime, the world's gone shit nuts...
"what? I just wanted some cybersex...!?"
Internet Suicides Plague Japan
Young People Make Death Pacts With Strangers
"TOKYO -- Glued to a computer screen in his north Tokyo apartment, the stocky, part-time sushi delivery man spent weeks searching the recesses of the Internet. Going simply by the handle "Murata," the 28-year-old surfed for online companions harboring his same dark interest: the desire to die. "
Oompa Loompas FROM HELL!
By Josh Grossberg
"It could soon be Oompa Loompa time for Johnny Depp. Currently sailing the seas as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl's Captain Jack Sparrow, the thespian may be foregoing the rum for some everlasting gobstoppers--he's the frontrunner to play Willy Wonka in director Tim Burton's update of Roald Dahl's classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sources confirmed Wednesday."
wait... "caphead?"
List of ethnic slurs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"The following is a list of ethnic slurs that are, or have been, used to refer to members of a given ethnicity (or, in some cases, nationality or religion) in a derogatory or pejorative manner. The term is listed, followed by its primary user(s) and a definition.
Not all terms on the list are considered equally offensive. Many of these terms are used more widely than would be imagined based on their "definition", for example, Chink can be used to refer to any Asian person. The key here is that the person using the slur cares so little about the target, that the person's actual background is irrelevant. The motivation for using an ethnic slur is often racism. "
sometimes you nonsemites baffle me
Fellowship Baptist Creation Science Fair 2001
Article by Dr. Richard Paley & FBCSF Staff
"Students presented their projects in the Fellowship Baptist Church auditorium. As a Creation Scientist, one of my greatest duties that I take great pleasure in is introducing the works of the Lord to the young generation...To that end, the Fellowship Baptist Creation Science Fair was started. It's purpose is to get kids excited about Creation and motivate them to discover the truth of our Lord on their own. The Creation Science Fair is held annually and is open to homeschoolers and students from area Christian schools grades 1 through 12.
"2nd Place: "Women Were Designed For Homemaking"
Jonathan Goode (grade 7) applied findings from many fields of science to support his conclusion that God designed women for homemaking: physics shows that women have a lower center of gravity than men, making them more suited to carrying groceries and laundry baskets; biology shows that women were designed to carry un-born babies in their wombs and to feed born babies milk, making them the natural choice for child rearing; social sciences show that the wages for women workers are lower than for normal workers, meaning that they are unable to work as well and thus earn equal pay; and exegetics shows that God created Eve as a companion for Adam, not as a co-worker."
Okay, I can't top that.
OPEN MOUTH
Yeah, like I have time to write in this thing.
Briefly, here's what's going on in keywords:
Heartbreak and HEARTBREAK - women are frustrating, but Jamesmith's beautiful artwork soothes all ills.
Secret Comics Outlines - I'll tell you this... getting your heart destroyed is the best way to go about writing a romantic tragedy.
Assholes of the world unite - don't make me work for days on a project you're then going to steal, tweak and claim as your own.
Time crunch - no time to write, barely time to draw and little time to hit the gym... i need a thirtyfive hour day.
Have a good weekend... I hope things ease off next week but it ain't looking likely.
OPEN MOUTH
A conversation between Jason and I.
Jab13: Seen Grosse Pointe Blank?
Slashr3: Not yet... heard of it.. gotta soon. Why?
Jab13: Well you're of no help. I need to use a quote from it as a witty response to the invite for my ten year high school reunion.
Slashr3: How about "FUCK YOU, YOU MISERABLE COCK SMOKERS! WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME IN TEN FUCKING YEARS?"
Jab13: It's in the running.
OPEN MOUTH
So, supposedly Disney is moving away from traditional 2D animation and towards a 3D/computer animation based animation model. Personally, my feeling is that a nation of animation students collectively got crappier.
If you study the old Disney animation cels, the backgrounds are so beautifully rendered that they take your breath away... some of the scenes from SLEEPING BEAUTY and the like are works of art. Looking at modern computer based animation, pieces like TOY STORY and even hybrids like THE LION KING offer the same awe... but then you realize that the latter are done with machines and the former are done BY HAND.
Welcome to the dehumanizing of animation.
Over at the Oni boards I've been going back and forth with Jamie Rich and a few regulars about the differences of a traditional animation background and a focus on computer animation. One of the folks tossed out the comment that "machines are incapable of creating art, and that computers are simply fancy pencils in the hands of human artists. " This is all true.. I'm aware that there are PEOPLE behind the modeling... but my point was there's a world of difference between typing commands and adjusting with a mouse than lifting and dropping thousands of almost identical pages. And yes, computer animation is NOT EASY... I know how hard it is to build a model, a wireframe and have it move believably across the screen. MY point, though, is that traditional hand animation is slowly becoming a lost art and being the backbone and foundation of how Disney was created, I find it sad that they're removing the hand to page techniques that serve as a basis for any form of animation.
Ande Parks abd Scott Morse came along with a few points, most notably discussing how this is a continuing trend in Hollywood where execs see how an existing model is working and trying to put their eggs in one basket, as it were.
Ande: "As my friend Bill Wray pointed out, this is a brilliant strategy by the new head of animation. Assuming the guy has no idea how to make movies as good as the Pixars, he has bought himself several years with this change in philosophy. By the time a few 3D clunkers are wrapping up, he'll have a nice golden parachute to retire on."
Scott, an animator himself, had this to say:
"The basic problem with recent traditionally animated features is the upper management and the "ideas" they have about what makes a successful film. They (and I'm talking most specifically about Disney, Dreamworks, and Warners) have become much too inbred to realize that you can think out of the box to come up with an alternative to the formulaic, tired process they became comfortable with. The real shame would be if Disney execs truly had any creative pull over the Pixar creators, who push storytelling and cinematic concepts with their films, as opposed to reworking old ideas and using the SAME six or so co-director teams that have been helming these films since the success of LITTLE MERMAID. New blood needs to try their hands as directors, as Chris Sanders and Brad Bird proved with LILO and IRON GIANT, respectively. Now, I know Chris and Brad, and I know they were in the game during the heyday of the formula system I'm criticizing, but these two are exceptional in that they know film language beyonf most of the others.
As far as the craft, I was taught traditionally at CalArts, where computers were, and hopefully still are, taught as a TOOL, not as a craft in and of themselves. Basic animation principals should always be taught traditionally, as draughtsmanship and basic kinetic actions are best understood if you're forced to think through them while drawing. You better understand how something moved is you construst it yourself, analyze the thing in real life, and realize how best you can exaggerate it in motion to deliver the best acting performance you can. Animation is about exaggeration and charicature of movement AND visual style. Computers make it harder for the new blood learning the craft of animation in that they limit what the animator can do to the inherent design of the wireframe they're dealing with. CGI characters are limited to how they're designed, and often times, the designers haven't trained as animators and don't know how, or where, to exaggerate the initial design.
Long-winded, I'm sorry, but I'm a stickler for traditional TRAINING. That's the key. Learn to draw, learn to analyze, learn to act. Then go learn Maya and Soft Image and whatever else you think you need to. Most reputable animation houses employ animators that have traditional backgrounds becasue they can already animate. Anyone can be taught a specific operating system (and Pixar's, for example, is VERY specific). NOT everyone can be taught on the job how to animate."
I agree with Scott, but but not everyone does. There are schools (I know as I've been looking at course catalogs) that simply want you to know basic color theory and how to work a computer along with ONE animation course before they drop you into modeling and Maya.
I'd imagine that every single Pixar creator has been through the TRAINING and the trenches... but many of today's animation students don't see The Struggle and only see The Glamour (if any) of being a computer animator thinking they can do it one two three and thats what i'm fearing Disney's move will enforce...
And, as Scott pointed out, those would be animators will probably be weeded out pretty quickly by the animation houses.
Jamie fairly sums it up well by saying: "It's not that people can't start at a point where there is room for improvement, it's the concern that the mandate is eventually going to become that subpar is acceptable, and that in general, there isn't much to encourage a more sophisticated eye in animation (and yes, go ahead someone, make the argument that it's the same in any art, please). And that the greatest pioneering studio of animation is now going almost exclusively to techniques that they don't do very well--thus likely not improving on their real problems and cutting off their nose to spite their face.
Not one single person has argued that comptuer animation can't be good, you might notice. Just little faith in Disney, little faith in movie studios at large, and an overall sadness that a style of animation we enjoy is moving towards extinction. And that said movement may encourage shortcuts that will ultimately lower the standard of the art."
Word.
OPEN MOUTH
"Neil Kleid has the innate talent and unflinching tenacity to tell a modern Capra classic while tugging tight on those deep Disney heartstrings that most folks spend an inordinate amount of their lifetime trying to bury. Once Kleid makes hay, the comix world won't know where to hide."
--Dean Haspiel [Billy Dogma, Opposable Thumbs]
OPEN MOUTH
1) I want to understand what you believe to be is your job description.
Art Director:
The Art Director's job is to oversee the workflow of the art department - from incoming production request straight through to final product. Along the way, this entails creative brainstorming, design, production, press checks, packaging for and dealing with vendors, printers, clients and other Advantages departments. As well, the Art Director is required to oversee the day to day operations of the in house design team - making sure each and every job is accounted for, assigned an art number and put through the system. The design team, under the purview of the Art Director, will document each job on the process log and clearly communicate with the Advantages Production Department the whereabouts and details of said job workflow. The Art Director keep up to speed on current and available software, hardware and any other design related product that might enhance and grow the Advantages Art Department. Furthermore, as Advantages is a team based company, the Art Director pitches in with collating, moving of boxes, printer maintenance and various other non-art related tasks as needed (such as answering phones when no one else is available). It goes unsaid that when mechanical dummies, paste ups and other hand crafted projects need to be created (such as journals and mocked up promotional products), the Art Director either handles or delegates said assignment to an available designer. The Art Director is required to update the company web site and branding materials on a periodic basis, always looking for fresh new ways to grow the Advantages label. The Art Director acts as the touchstone for any and all art-related questions in the office, as well as production and minor technical challenges. All open projects go through his/her hands before making its way into production.
2) Please describe for me what you do during your typical work day and weather you believe these activities fall with in or outside of your job description
My typical work day is never consistent. It begins with work on existing jobs in the "hopper" which can run the range from brochure design to website tweaking to setting up business cards, flowing in text for a journal or rewriting an ad campaign. I play the hats of copywriter, art director, designer, technical design manager and sometimes, printer. I spend my day fielding client calls, talking to printers and vendors about how best to produce a current project amid overseeing the work flow of the Assistant Designer and communicating with the Production team. Often, my workflow is halted in order to meet with a new client, discuss new projects (or existing ones, as in the case with many MultipleOutlet jobs) with the President or to deal with the packaging of a project to send to a vendor. Sometime around the afternoon and onward, it often is the case that I am needed to cover the phone lines... that's probably a bit outside my job description but what can you do? As well, often I am called upon to help craft business letters for Advantages.
...and let's not forget the hardcore crack smoking.
INSERT FOOT
My kingdom for the atom bomb.
"The New Axis
Our fight is dedicated to our fatherland Japan and our race (Turanid race). At the same time, We have to fight for the freedom of the world against communism, race-mixing, Freemasonry and Zionism. We have to establish the NEW GEOPOLITICAL AXIS – as the World Union of National-Socialists – against ZOG in haste. We wish to expand our international cooperation with those who fighting against the common enemies. We always welcome everyone who has the will and are looking forward to hearing from the comrades all over the world. The Victory shall be ours! "
Now I don't know who's pissed the jingoistic 1940's based American in me off more - Krauts, Japs or Hippies.
OPEN MOUTH
"Sorkin idea taking wing
By STEPHEN BATTAGLIO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Live from New York, it's - Aaron Sorkin?
Maybe.
The writer and creator of "The West Wing" has set his sights on "Saturday Night Live" as the subject of his next TV series.
Sorkin has told his studio, Warner Bros. Television, that he'd like to take a behind-the-scenes look at an irreverent late-night sketch-comedy show modeled after the long-running "SNL" and its creator-impresario Lorne Michaels."
OPEN MOUTH
Just when you thought it couldn't get more fucked up...
Came to work today with a zero hour deadline on this Miramax wankery. We're waiting on the print outs so i can slap em up on a few blacboards and send in into Tribeca... so in the meantime, I'm squeezin' in some blog time.
So so weekend... lame ass party on saturday night. So lame they had to bring music in from MY apartment... mmm mmm, Weezer.
Got my outlines almost done - this week I should wrap 'em all up. Tonight I start the last one and write up the BROWNSVILLE pitch (Jake is sending me six or seven pages this week).
Speaking of pages, check out this temp page Jamesmith set up for ART OF HEARTBREAK here.
There's nothing like bagel, chips and Cherry Coke to get one through the day...unless we switch "bagel" to "pizza", "chips" to "crack" and "Cherry Coke" to "beer."
This deadline's pounding the hammer on my sack.
INSERT FOOT
Didn't you hear? I'm on deadline. PLUTONIAN tonight.
In the meantime, Chester, Def Leppard sucks.
OPEN MOUTH
Got stuck at work in queens last night when the lights went out... got turned away at the 59th street bridge and told to try back later...
Crashed at my boss last night and have yet to get home. I am leaving for the city in a half hour and then have to deal with food, etc... i am tired, i am unshaven, i am beat.
i have a lot more to write but i cant form cogent thoughts now.
Fuck you, Amish.
OPEN MOUTH
Yes, yes I will be at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD this year from September 5-7. I will be stationed at the HOUSE OF TWELVE table/compound where I, along with noted hooligans Cheese Hasselberger, Brian Musikoff, Evan Forsch and Dave McKenna will be hawking freshly printed copies of HOUSE OF TWELVE V 2.0 in which I have a six page story entitled "I Was Teenage Sci-Fi Writer." Also for sale will be copies of MAULED!, our first collaborative project (I'm going to be in the second volume) and scores of great minicomics.
This year, I will be debuting the following projects, both nominated for a Debut Ignatz Award:
RANT COMICS #3: The third in my continuing collection of short cartoon stories, anecdotes and tales of corporate insanity. RANT #3 begins with "Suburbia" the first part of an ongoing serial (akin to Nick Bertozzi's "Drop Ceiling" in RUBBER NECKER) about small towns and big dreams. The mini also collects a new bio comic about New Coke; a four page cartoon "deep thought" entitled "Spring Rolls"; and of course, a new adventure of Explodey, the Clown that Explodes. RANT COMICS #3 is a 24 page black and white minicomic and costs 2 dollars.
THE ART OF HEARTBREAK: Illustrated by the talented Jamesmith, HEARTBREAK offers a look at coping and independence in the Old West. When Sarah is rejected for another woman, she finds she must come to terms with the type of person she wants to be. Underscored by selections from Sun Tzu's "Art of War," HEARTBREAK presents a unique look at romance and personal growth. Printed in landscape format, THE ART OF HEARTBREAK is a 16 page black and white minicomic and costs 2 dollars.
Besides those books, I will have copies of all my other minicomics many of which can be seen here. If you ask kindly, I'll show you samples of upcoming projects including BROWNSVILLE (with Jake Allen), NINETY CANDLES and DUMB LUCK (with Andrew Dabb and Andrew Krahnke).
While you're walking around the con floor, feel free to look for my work in the following publications:
SMUT PEDDLER, 9-11:EMERGENCY RELIEF and TRUE PORN.
Also feel free to buy me alkeehol and tell publishers that they should hire me, publish me and buy me alkeehol. I'm looking at you, Chris Pitzer.
Hope to see you in Bethesda!
OPEN MOUTH
Well, thank god that's over.
Finally got a moment to breathe... spring rolls in my belly and some photshoppery up on my screen. I've been creating posters for a Miramax documentary entitled PAPER CLIPS which is the story of Whitwell, TN, where two eight grade teachers began a project to teach tolerance to the local children. The kids collected over six million paper clips - one to represent each life snuffed out in the Holocaust - and now there is a permanent memorial established in Whitwell. The documentary follows the project from birth to its current state , helping teach OTHER schools and various new related projects. Anyway, the producers are clients of ours and Miramax gave us the go ahead to come up with a few poster ideas... I'm working on about 8 of them as I type... pretty fancy duds.
Other than that - SPX is a-comin'. I have to finish printing RANT #3 and start printing THE ART OF HEARTBREAK (James is getting the pages to me this weekend). I don't think I'm going to have time to print more LNB #1's so I"ll simply ride out what I have... I ALSO need to print out these pitch packets - BROWNSVILLE is in production, DUMB LUCK and NINETY CANDLES are done, and THE BIG KAHN depends on how fast Max can get some pages to me. Had a minor scare with the House of Twelve pages, but i got the right stuff to Cheese after I got back from Fire Island yesterday.
Ah, Fire Island. So peaceful. If I could sit on a hammock by the bay and art direct into the office via cel phone, I would. There's nothing like listening to the waves lap against the sand, a cold Bass Ale in one hand and a sketchpad in the other... women running up and down the dock wearing next to nothing. No cars, no trucks, no motorbikes..not a single luxury...er. Well, SOME luxuries...but it's so relaxing. And I am SO burnt. I managed to get the New Secret Project outline done while I was there...now I'm waiting on Dino's yes or no. I'm also still a-waitin' on feedback for the FIRST Secret Project... gah... in the meantime, maybe I can cold email some editors and try to drum up some work, no? Yes.
Whats' going on in the world o' comics?
WizardWorld is over and Chuck Austen is now writing the Avengers. Yeehar. I'm more interested in Justin Gray's new Moonstone book, Mr. Keen.
Honestly, the big news for me came out of the DC camp with the announcement of George Fucking Romero and Richard Fucking Corben doing TOE TAGS. As most people know, I dig all kinds of horror...from the Twilight Zone to Freddy Vs Jason to your mom in the shower (ha HA!)... Romero is the king and if you haven't seen Corben's artwork, I suggest you pick something up tootsweet, Chester. I dug the BANNER mini series he did with Brian Azzarello last year. I'm ALSO hyped that the Challs are coming back. I'm not a huge Chayin fan, but I dig the Challs alot... to me they're like the Fantastic Four without the fucking powers... they're attainable superheroes, dig? I'd love to see an escape artist based story... maybe they could get Chabon to write it or something.
If you're going to SPX this year, check out TEEN BOAT! by David Roman and John Green.
"TEEN BOAT is the only comic about a teenager who can transform into a boat.
When Teen Boat goes on a class trip to Venice will the romantic locale be key to getting the attention of Nina Pinta Santa Maria, the girl of his dreams?
Will Nina succumb to the advances of football jock, Harry Cobbs? Will TB's best friend, Joey Steinberg, scuttle his chances with her altogether? Or could there be another love interest in store for Teen Boat?
Find out in TEEN BOAT #4: Teen Love Boat!
The ANGST of being a teen--the THRILL of being a boat!"
Click here to read the first issue of TEEN BOAT.
I'll post a Neil SPX guide in a sec...
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Still too busy to continue PLUTONIAN... back to it on Monday... in the meantime, here's some Clenchspeak:
Wrenched from the ruined, decayed, blasted pavement, Gort's femur was a broken, splintered thing of twisted beauty. The sharp alabaster edges flaked from flayed skin and bleeding muscle, digging deep, dark, desolate furrows in the once perfectly proud piece of flesh. He shrieked - a thin, wavering, doleful note hovering over the chaos and carnage. A single tear slipped from the broken blood vessel flowering from the milky white eye left unmarred and it dripped, drooped, danced down to the remains of the other ocular organ. Falling and floundering to his good knee, Gort clutched for the bruised bones surrounding the now haphazard femur. Fingers dug and nails scurried along scratched ivory and streaked sinew... nerve endings sang no more - his senses exploded and bombarded the light behind his eye with a frequency undreamed of, never heard of and best left forgotten. He squealed, noise on a nonexistent blackboard, and as high wails of approaching sirens blotted out his glorious, melodious yelps, he released, falling into shadow.
OPEN MOUTH
Back from the Island... tossed right back into work and catching up...dear god...you walk away for a few days and you get a shitload of email.
On the news front... i'm burnt... and I'm working on a campaign for a Miramax documentary.
I'm so tired.
Mo' later.
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Good Lord, it's cats and dogs out there.
In HERE, however, it's plans and work. Didn't do much this weekend owing to the fact that I had too much to do (did that make fuck's worth of sense?). Had to get the hair cut and the shoes bought... packing and repacking for Fire Island thought it looks like I may end up spending two days rained in instead of one the beach....gah! Damn you sun, shine!
Rewrote the first issue outline on New Secret Project and sent it to Dino...have to finish issues two and three and shoot them off so we can get the full thing to the publisher by the end of the week. Also need to resend the last 4 pages of TEENAGE SCI-FI WRITER to Cheese because I am a dumbass and didn't burn the pages correctly... which is fine, since I may have to go to the office anyway...
We just got the chance to bid for a Miramax ad campaign. The film is a little known documentary called PAPER CLIPS and it's about children collecting six million paper clips to understand the scope of six million lives being snuffed out in Worl War Two. I have several ideas for a campaign but I really need to see the film first... for that, I will be heading out to the wilds of Queens later this eve to catch a showing and while there, I'll send Cheese his pages.
Whew.
Here are some comics reviews:
Got to the shop this week and I figured I'd post a quick thing or two about what I bought... quite the superhero week, I must say...nothing "indie" caught my eye, though I did quite the trawl through the bins. I did manage to pick one thing up, though.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 - I'm liking this book. I bought the old JLIs back when I was a "strictly spandex" type and they made me laugh... don't get me wrong, i dig the whole grand epic, JLA stories we have now, but there was something about giant Nazi robots that looked like Hitler and the bwahaha mentality that really made me enjoy comics... and to me, why call them funnybooks if there's no funny? I find it interesting the Giffen's making Blue Beetle more serious than he used to be... specifically NOT giving the fans what they want - the old tried and trued Blue and Gold comedy routines...I'm also glad someone finally addressed the whole "is Captain Atom going to make me sterile" thing.
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 - I dunno, something about exposition killed this one for me. I understand what Loeb was trying to do by comparingand contrasting the Big Two, but the captions tended to distract me on this one. McGuiness' artwork continues to fascinate me, more than the manga/Joe Mad style that popped up about the time he started making headway in comics.And look - Captain Atom is back.
THE LOSERS #1 and #2 - I love the movie THE USUAL SUSPECTS. The intrigue, the unique missions and the way people behind the law get aorund the system. I dig the banter and the theme song that runs through your head when the criminals set out to stop the NYC Finest Taxi Service...the bum ba da da da with the underlying ticking - it's cinematic and yet very in your face- here we are motherfuckers. Don't fuck with us. This is a MOVIE. This is SHIT GOING DOWN. Thats how I felt when I read THE LOSERS.
SPX 2003 - Most people hate the whole "theme" aspect of the SPX books these days.. personally, I find that they're more cohesive. Look at how a theme helped PROJECT:TELSTAR and look how a theme helps the recently released TRUE PORN. It binds a myriad of good comics together and you don't feel like adjacent stories jar. That being said, this year's theme was "travel" and the selections while diversely told, really bind the book together. Personal standouts included SMILING IS SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE DO by Bryan O'Malley, BAGGAGE by Jessica Fink, TERROR-PORT by Shane Durgee, TRANSFER by Tom Neely (my favorite in the book), THE ASSIGNMENT by J. Tanner and DIRTY BANANA by Dawson and Radtke... special shout outs to Macr Bryant/Mal Jones for a cute story in METAL DETECTOR and Rob G for the Detroit Tigers shirt in an amusing THE ISLAND OF DEATH.
THE AVENGERS: WORLD TRUST trade - Bought this for research. Haven't read it yet.
And with that... I'm off to the Island. No INSERT FOOT this weekend but I'll be back with PLUTONIAN SHORE script on Wednesday, I hope...
Hasta Con Dios, Baby!
OPEN MOUTH
So the SPX Ignatz Committe released the 2003 Award Nominees.
Big ups to Dino, Renee, Raina and Nick. Y'all deserve it!
Things go quietly here. Bumming at work, getting ready for vacation. I have tons to do today and I can't wait to bust out of here for the weekend. About to call Dino regarding the New Secret Project to hash out some things...other than that... status quo I go.
WizardWorld Chicago starts today so I imagine we'll have a decent newsflow til Sunday.
In the meantime... head down, nose meet grindstone.
OPEN MOUTH
Nine hours to go.
I'm not a good faster... i used to be much worse at it because i used to get migraines... plus, its harder to fast when youre not doing anything. If i was sitting at home now with nothing to do, the fridge would be calling my name from the kitchen, dig? Work and writing take my mind off of the fast and I'm glad for it.
So... blog writing has been spare of late because I'm swamped - it's been a GOOD week and hopefully it's going to turn into a good year... like i reported before, got a big arse raise and will be finally getting my health benefits set up. As well, BROWNSVILLE pages are coming in and BOY are they swank. Jake is going all out on this sucker. I set up a PDF packet for the DUMB LUCK pitch and will be doing the same for BROWNSVILLE and THE BIG KAHN before SPX... and oh, yeah - then there's the new Top Secret project I'm working on. No, not the first one i talked about above...this is a book that came out of NOWHERE and frankly, I cannot wait to get it on the shelf. It'll be the book that breaks me into the mainstream, I hope and sets up more work for down the road. Frankly, I've been a bit stunned since I got the all clear and have spent most of my time discussing the issue breakdown with the artist and editor since I need to try and get the outline in by the end of next week. The hope is to get all three issues ready for the artist to start drawing once his plate clears at the end of the year... that should break the series sometime around... i dunno... con season next year? Along with that, I am reminded that I need to check back in with the publisher of my original Top Secret Project and see if they've read the outline and script sample... Hey, kids... bli ayin hara, 2004 could be Neil's breakout year.
I'm off to Fire Island again this year - two and a half days of sun, sand, steak and beer. I had a blast on the Island last year and cannot wait to just sit back in a large hammock, a bottle of beer in one hand and a burger in the other. I plan on doing a little wavesurfing and plenty of nothing. Last year saw me write the outline to THE FIFTIES #3 and this year should let me write out the complete outline for the new project. But no worries - Neil knows it's not all work.
Here's what's happening in the world, folks:
Kobe Bryant and Mike Tyson. You know what? I'm sick of hearing about bad shit like this. I'm more intrigued by the race for governor of California. The two Arnies, as I'm calling Schwarzenegger and Gary Coleman, really don't think they have a shot in hell, do they? Well, Coleman more than Big Arnie needs to realize that no one will take him seriuously... Big Arnie will get tremendous support fro the Republican Party, I'm certain, as well as the Hollywood community. Plus... people just seem to like him. Once has to wonder what Arianna Huffington, Bustamante and other politically minded runners think of the circus this race is slowly becoming... especially with HUSTLER publisher Larry Flynt, Gallagher and D.L. Hughley putting their bids in. Personally, I think that if Gallagher and Coleman ran for President/VP, the country would be a fun place to live. Flynt can be Secretary of Boo-tay.
Comics? Rick Spears and Rob G have a backup in DETECTIVE COMICS debuting today..they'll be signing tonight at Midtown Comics.
Speaking of DC, they've postponed the TITANS SWINGING ELSEWORLDS book according to the enraged internet.
There's a new CYNICALMAN up at serializer!
According to Augie, BREAKIN' 2:ELECTRIC BOOGALOO comes out soon on DVD... I'll put this next to my copies of THE LAST DRAGON and KRUSH GROOVE.
Oh, and for all you artists out there, COMIC BOOK IDOL submissions are open today.
Back to work. Eight hours to go now.
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I'm going to hold off on writing more of PLUTONIAN until I get back from Fire Island, so in the meantime, check out the insanity.
this is odd enough to be posted twice!
Gary Coleman on California ballot
"(CNN) -- Gary Coleman, child star of the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," has placed his name among a host of other celebrities in the running for California governor...On Diff'rent Strokes from 1978 to 1986, Coleman played Arnold Drummond, who, along with his brother, Willis (played by Todd Bridges), was adopted by a wealthy man after their mother, the man's maid, died. His trademark retort, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout," became a well-known catch phrase."
if you build it... they will come...
Woman opens yard for UFO convention
"HOOPER, Colorado (AP) -- Judy Messoline got tired of waking up with strangers, if not aliens, in her yard. So four years ago she asked the Saguache County commissioners to allow her to build a UFO watchtower and campground so she could cash in on people who were already using her land to camp as they tried to spot aliens."
well, here's hoping Dick Bacon can hold out a few more years...!
Hot Springs man who changed name to Jack Ass dies
"HOT SPRINGS - The former Robert Craft, the man who changed his legal name to Jack Ass in 1997 and founded the Hearts Across America campaign that encouraged people to put up big red "healing hearts" along highways, has himself died. A coroner said Wednesday that Ass shot himself with a hunting rifle last week in a yard used for automobile storage east of Hot Springs. He was 45"
...oh, i can't top that.
Go commute.
OPEN MOUTH
What a difference a day makes.
This morning, I was groggy and angry at the world...but now, i want to kiss everything. The day was spent in a flurry of phone calls and emails and in the end....well, in the end I really can't say anything yet... but it's good. VERY good.
Wow... it's been an amazing week and it's only TUESDAY. Thank you, G-d... i'll fast extra hard for you in Thursday. Yes, Thursday is Tisha B'Av where we commemorate the destruction of the Temple... the fast starts on Wednesday night (hence no comical type jam this week) and ends Thursday night (which will culminate in K Thor's drinkin' cussin' birthday soiree).
What's been going on? Not much. I was really out of it this week and didn't do much writing. I got RANT #3 all set up and was planning on tackling the KAHN rewrite and more COFFIN, but now I have research and outlining to do. Y'know, I remember the last time I went to Fire Island I outlined the third issue of THE FIFTIES... now I get to go on Monday and outline another project.
I really can't stop smiling.
I can't even get creepy enough to write more of PLUTONIAN SHORE... so instead, i'm gonna go have a coke.
Enjoy your day!
OPEN MOUTH
Reasons why I am happy:
1) I am getting two vacation days next week.
2) I just got a big ass raise.
3) I have two anthology stories out by SPX.
Yay!
OPEN MOUTH and INSERT FOOT
Jamie Rich pointed this one out recently. This is how I feel right about now.
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http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/0307/0727comical.html
Cartoon book inspires teen
prostitution gang to comical success
"We learned how to run a prostitution ring through a manga cartoon series. We thought it'd be a lot easier than it really was," a 15-year-old runaway girl arrested after she was allegedly found selling herself says."
OPEN MOUTH
My back has launched an ultra secret offensive against me.
So I was lifting last night after running the Neil Hour and I started doing pulldowns from one of the Cybex Machines (which sounds so Saturday morning.. "beware the power of my CYBEX MACHINE!"). I did one set of reps and on the second one, I felt this string snap in my right shoulder blade... right at the bottom where the shoulders meet my back. Now I can't sit bent over or I feel this lowgrade humming all through my spine and once in a while I snap and jerk like a flag in the wind. Probably should've taken some elephant painkillers along with about a fifth of gin.
Watched the G.I.JOE DVD set last night and I have to admit, it really does stand the test of time. Lately, whenever I've been exposed to cartoons or show I loved as a kid, I've been most disappointed... I mean, TRANSFORMERS? HE-MAN? What about those captired my attention?But JOE was atually WELL WRITTEN. I was watching as they started discussing mad science and really detailed military maneuvers and that's not something you saw in an 80's cartoon. Sure, they were goofy enough to have the "knowing is half the battle" and eventually he characters got pretty stupid... but those early shows - the ones written by Marv Wolfman and assorted collaborators... those were solid, military minded shows that really made the characters, the situations and stories sing. Although, I need to admit that the idea of them finding Shipwreck, the sailor character, in a bar in the desert is a bit idiotic.
Most sailors hang out in the Village.
Work continues apace - hacking out COFFIN, setting up my printing schedule for next month. I'm going to see if I can knock out 25 copies of SMUT PEDDLER while here at work today... depends on everyone's schedule. I don't think folks would take kindly to watching this mini roll out.
Got a corking quote from Dino Haspiel that I need to get onto my site... already plastered it on the back cover of RANT #3.
A few things before I hit the DC from the AC:
Comics are ridiculous sometimes.
The NYCBBM Jam is scheduled for August 6th at 7pm. Sadly, I cannot go. Drink and weep for me.
Rumor has it the trailer for THE RETURN OF THE KING is now online. I wouldn't know because my computer taunts me with the possibility of working all through the night. Check it out.
Apparently, , Jerry Seinfeld is wrong.
I'd like one of these shirts.
Why, oh why, do you taunt me with your childlike good looks, Chip Zdarsky?
Okay, onto the writing.
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LATE NIGHT BLOCK: NIGHT'S PLUTONIAN SHORE
10 Pages written and copyrighted by Neil Kleid
Page Five (6 PANELS)
PANEL ONE
Large shot - the alien removes his helmet and we can see he's a blond, blue eyed man... almost Aryan, like many of your favorite comic book characters. He's sweating slightly (it's hot under that helmet) and behind him, his second in command is a darker, more Cherokee-like guy in his early twenties. The lead man- HANK KARSH- smiles and extends his hand to Davies.
KARSH: HANK KARSH, UNITED STATES ASTRONAUT AND CAPTAIN OF THE RAVEN EXPLORATIONAL UNIT.
KARSH: JOEY AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU FOR DAYS.
PANEL TWO
Davies hesitantly takes Karsh's hand.
DAVIES: CH..CHARMED... WAIT.. DAYS?
DAVIES: WHY? WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?
PANEL THREE
Davies sneaks around the astronauts and peers out the door again.
DAVIES: WHAT'S OUT THERE? THAT'S... THAT'S...
PANEL FOUR
Davies peers out into the emptiness of space at the shiny rocket and the cosmos winking down.
DAVIES: ...IMPOSSIBLE.
PANEL FIVE
He ducks back in locking the door and spreading his arms out to barricade it. The two men scratch their heads in confusion.
DAVIES: EXPLAIN THIS! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
DAVIES: WHY IS THERE A SOLAR SYSTEM IN MY HALLWAY?
PANEL SIX
The two men astronauts trade wary glances
KARSH: YOUR... HALLWAY?
KARSH: MISTER DAVIES... SIR... DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE?