INSERT FOOT
Why do people say "hot shit" like it's a good thing? As in "He thinks he's hot shit."
I've touched hot shit. It's not a good thing.
OPEN MOUTH
"This year, like all semi-professional writer/cartoonists, I geared myself up for a weekend of Big Announcements, stars and sound bytes and of course, laughable costumes. I folded and stapled 200 ashcans of BROWNSVILLE, the graphic novel Jake Allen and I are creating, to be put out by NBM Publishing in 2005 and just generally psyched myself out for a great, great time. Here's the only catch: I wasn't going."
OPEN MOUTH
Swamped with work here, and a bit of news to get to later, but in the meantime how cool is this?
"Hello - My name is Toshiro."
Heh.
OPEN MOUTH
Okay, so a) someone called to my attention to the fact that the guy from WKRP is Les Nessman - NOT Nesmith. Why did I keep hearing Nesmith all those years? Excuse me while I kiss this guy. Also, b) I just realized I accidentally posted the wrong files - I have corrected lettering (for instance, "Johnny Fever" is spelled wrong on the one I posted) and need to replace those files ASAP.
Shiiiiiiit.
OPEN MOUTH
Sometimes I despair for the human race.
This.... this... sometimes I have no words.
Now I don't want to go to Chicago, either.
Kudos to everyone at the Millarworld boards. Thanks for bringing this to our attention Mark and Brian.
OPEN MOUTH
Every quest has a hero born and bred to complete it. The goal may be small but must be undertaken for the fabric of the universe to remain intact. There is one quest - an all encompassing quest - upon which all others depend. It is a quest to halt the unraveling of nature, legend, heaven and hell... it brings with it adventure, love, maturity and death... and historians claim the hero born to complete it is a man named Meiers.
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALLY MEIERS is the story of a reluctant eleven-year-old hero and the consequences that may doom several worlds if his friends don't teach him to save the universe.
Written by Xeric-winning cartoonist Neil (NINETY CANDLES) Kleid and beautifully illustrated by Eisner-nominated cartoonist Tom (TRUE STORY, SWEAR TO GOD) Beland, WALLY MEIERS is an epic all-ages tale inspired by stories in the vein of the Harry Potter books, Jeff Smith's BONE and Michael Chabon's SUMMERLAND. The series is set to serialize as Beland's TRUE STORY schedule allows with a story that spans over three or four seralized graphic novels.
"It's something both Tom and I have hinted at here and there, but the first thing we want people to know is that Tom is committed to TRUE STORY," says Kleid."That's his baby; that's his muse. It comes before all else. On a recent visit to New York, Tom made it clear that he's dying to get to WALLY MEIERS but has to make sure his pace on his book keeps going. He told me he's working on it (I've seen the sketches and they rock) but it's going to take some time. My reaction to that? Between 'fast' and 'good' I take 'good' every time."
When asked to explain the story, Kleid said "Alot of people are going to make connections between our story and Harry Potter, but there's a lot more to it. You see, Wally's quest connects to MANY established stories out there. He's taught that every story- be it fiction or non-fiction - has basis in truth... and these stories all make up the tapestry of existence. It's about a boy who's born into a quest he must undertake - at the peril of existence itself - and the road to becoming a hero, facing your fears and learning to depend on your friends. It's about leadership, it's about friendship... and like alot of my work, it's about fatherhood and legacy. You see, Wally's father has already been down this road - he died attempting to complete this quest, something his mother's been keeping from his all these years. So, a lot of the characters in the book are already familiar with his family. Since the crux of the book focuses on the fact that every story is real somewhere, will we see some familiar faces? Will Wally cross over into 'established stories'? Yes and no. Tom and I have already approached a few known indy cartoonists for 'cameos' but most of the characters you'll meet along Wally's quest are archetypes - the adventurer, the young hero out to save the world, the beautiful warrior princess... and some times you'll get to meet people you HAVE heard of. Like Moses, for example."
Moses, playing the role of Facilitator of the Insititute where Wally and friends train for their adventures, is not the only Judaic-based character to pop up in the story. "One of the selling points of WALLY MEIERS... in fact THE selling point that got Tom to join up, was the character of Mac. Mac, Wally's best friend, is the world's first Jewish robot. At the outset everyone finds it cute that he has a little kippah on his head, covering his memory banks... but over time his programming betrays his creator's heritage more and more. And eventually we realize what that heritage means to Wally's overall quest."
Or to quote Tom Beland: "Jewish Robot, baby? YEAH!"
Along the way Wally faces down an entire army of enemies, including shape-shifting beings known as AntiHumans. "The Antihumans are based on my theory that every time evil and oppression appears in the world or existence - Nazis, terrorists, supervillains, what have you - it's the same beings wearing different faces. These Antihumans are controlled by Wally's main arch-enemy, a man named Rival." While the character of Rival remains a mystery for much of the first book, Kleid promises that the eventual payoff of his identity creates major ramifications for the rest of the characters. "It's all cyclical. It's all about time, space and journeys."
While the story is aimed at all-ages audiences, Kleid and Beland are hoping to entice older readers as well. "There are little inside moments that kids will accept but adults and teens might say 'cool' about. For instance, one of the department heads at the Institute, Professor Campbell, teaches Basic Heroism 101. Sharp writers and readers will realize he's based on Joseph Campbell, author of THE HERO WITH 1000 FACES. Most of the instructors and facilitators have some basis in literature or storytelling."
This first series follows Wally as he learns the science of questing from an insititute on the borders of existence, staffed by a faculty of history's greatest travelers. He and Mac risk life and limb along new friends - a dwarf, a sarcastic pigeon and a beautiful fairy - as he immerses himself in this new life, learning what he needs to in order to begin his quest. Future books will follow Wally on the road to stopping Rival's army, his first failures and ultimately, his search to discover more about his father's death - a tangent quest that might very lead Wally to a death of his own.
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALLY MEIERS by Neil Kleid and Tom Beland is, at press time, without a publisher. "We're talking to a few people," says Kleid, "and while everyone thinks the story, creative team and artwork is fantastic, no one's given us a definite yes. My e-mail is no big secret, folks, but remember - Tom's got commitments."
More information can be seen here.
OPEN MOUTH
RANT COMICS, publisher of the Xeric-winning graphic novella, NINETY CANDLES, is pleased to announce it's second graphic novel, AFTERLIFE, slated for a late 2005/early 2006 release.
AFTERLIFE is the story of Icarus, the oft-discussed but never seen Good Angel/Inclination that doubles as mortal man's "conscience" and his sudden fall from grace. Penalized for a minor act of rebellion against the Executive Office, Icarus is ousted from Heaven and reassigned to the Afterlife Mailroom - offices currently located on the third level of Hell. Now Icarus, a being infused with purity and love of G-d and man, must come to grips with his new surroundings, a new set of rules and ethics and thanks to some of his recent acquaintances, a possible new war against Heaven. Together with a motley crew including Erebus the Hellhound, Nick (the current Evil Angel/Inclination) and a bartender named Frank, Icarus must convince Lucifer, the Managing Director of Hell (forced to spend the rest of his days attempting to solve a Heavenly Rubik's Cube), that maybe going head-to-head for a second time with the Executive Office isn't the greatest idea.
One part theological musing and one part wry comedy, AFTERLIFE will offer a rather unique take on the world to come. "Though I'm an Orthodox Jew" creator Neil Kleid says" I'm fascinated with the afterlife as explained by other religions - and even by those who don't believe in it. I'm hoping that this story touches not only on my Judaic beliefs, but also on Christianity, Islam, Wiccan, Egyptian and even Atheism... heck, if anyone has a unique take on the afterlife, feel free to email me and I'd be happy to rap about it."
While in the past Kleid has divided his time between writing and illustrating comics and cartoons, he plans to focus his drawing time on AFTERLIFE alone. "Yeah, I turned out about 5-6 short cartoons stories while doing NINETY CANDLES - and I have one or two that still haven't been released. I might occasionally do a short cartoon for a friend or a specific book, for instance like an anthology Damon Hurd and I are planning, but for the most part I'm only drawing AFTERLIFE this year. I'll be writing alot of other projects, but as far as cartooning, that's it. I want to focus and get this done - it's a story I've been wanting to do for a long time now."
AFTERLIFE, a 96 page graphic novel written and illustrated by Xeric- winning cartoonist Neil Kleid, will be published by Rant Comics in late 2005/early 2006. Sketches and previews of the book will soon be available at rantcomics.com.
For more information, please email
OPEN MOUTH
OPEN MOUTH
I've opened a shop at Cafe Press, making available several products featuring art from NINETY CANDLES and Rant Comics slogans. Cruise on over to the store to purchase items like the ones shown below:
First off, have friends, foes, family and enemies seek you out to discuss the comic book medium by displaying clothes that ask people to RANT TO ME ABOUT COMICS!
There are several styles of shirts and accessories listed at the site, so check 'em out!
There's also artwork aimed at the diehards, the fans, those crazy enough to spend every waking hour on internet message boards and focusing their time, energy and creative existence to creating, reading and loving comics. Yes, that's right - you too can yell to the world that COMIC BOOKS BROKE MY BRAIN!
There are several styles of shirts and accessories listed at the site, so check 'em out!
Finally, grab shirts, buttons and merchandies featuring art from my Xeric-winning graphic novella, NINETY CANDLES. Timeless products for a book about time and space seems ideal - and with artwork printed in the same hunter green as the book, the NINETY CANDLES products are do-not-miss merchandise.
There are several styles of shirts and accessories listed at the site, so check 'em out!
Also, available, the tentative tagline, logo and artwork from BEAR SUITS, a new pop culture/piss take series by Neil Kleid, Paul Cote and artist Fernando Pinto. Discover more about the BEAR SUITS and check out a two page preview here.
Go. Look. Help me pay rent.
OPEN MOUTH
With apologies to Ryan Yount and Andrew Boyd:
The jersey, featuring artwork and logo from BEAR SUITS, the upcoming pop culture/piss take mini by Kleid, Paul Cote and Fernando Pinto will be shortly available at the new RANT COMICS Cafe Press store along with many other Bear Suits, Rant Comics and Ninety Candles products.
Go. Look. Help me pay rent.
OPEN MOUTH
Dave Gallaher, all around comic book writer, takes a second to weigh in on NINETY CANDLES at the Comic Book Writer's Forum:
"Given that this is a writer's forum, i'm only going to focus on the narrative
aspect of the story.
Here's what Neil had to say about the project:
"It's an experimental graphic novella that details the life and death of cartoonist Kevin Hall, one panel per year. I started with a blank page and an idea - no script, no direction and no end in mind. Each panel was created by referencing the previous panel and spaces between them blossomed into spaces between years, there for the reader to fill. "
That being said, I really enjoyed that book. The main protagonist, Kevin Hall is obsessed with comics. The dialogue is all presented upthe the artwork - which sometimes makes it a little difficult to figure out who exactly is speaking. And it's quite interesting to note that the conversations are happening around Kevin. As a protagonist he seems a little passive.
It's a noble experiment about the 'space between the panels' - In fact, there were only a few panels that I didn't agree with those being the last five panels at the end, and the early teenage mini-comic stuff (I thought 14 though 16 seemed a little out of order)
I love the idea of a 'cradle to the grave' book about a cartoonist - it's a more personal vision than say THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVILER AND CLAY. It's more depressing and really plays to a lot of my over personal insecurities as a comic creator - and that's why i think it is so very effective.
Nice work, Neil. There need to be more comics like this!"
Thanks, Dave! Everyone check out Dave's work at www.davidgallaher.com
OPEN MOUTH
BEAR SUITS, co-created by Paul Cote and Xeric winning cartoonist Neil Kleid, debuts this Fall in the pages of Sky-Dog Press’ EVEN MORE FUND COMICS Anthology to benefit the CBLDF. Like last year’s volume, EVEN MORE FUND will feature work by a blend of creators, from "names" in the industry to creators still on their way up.
BEAR SUITS asks the question: "what would a pop-culture raised/internet age twenty-something do if granted a fully armed robotic bear suit?" While most might be tempted to do good deeds, the three heroes of BEAR SUITS focus their strengths on the essentials: beer, women and comic books. Tom, Richard and Harry are Bears One, Two and Three – gifted with fabulous suits of armor that allow them incredible strength, night vision and razor sharp claws. They spend their days discussing eighties television, looking for the perfect beer stein, hanging out at their local ice cream shop/comic store and occasionally protecting the good citizens of Bigby City from dinosaurs, robotic movie directors and weird foes named for obscure Russian poets.
Beautifully illustrated by newcomer Fernando Pinto, the men of BEAR SUITS make their first appearance this September before appearing in their own mini-series in 2005. Filled with pop culture nonsense and more homages than you can growl at, BEAR SUITS tosses its arm around the shoulder of anthropomorphic heroes and buys them a cold beer. Maybe three.
EVEN MORE FUND COMICS, an all-ages anthology benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, ships to stores this September and can be preordered from the July Diamond PREVIEWS
Diamond Order Code JUL04 2759
Anthology, CBLDF
144 black-and-white pages, $10
www.skydogcomics.com
More informationand a two page preview of BEAR SUITS can be found at:
https://rantcomics.com/rant-bearsuits.html
OPEN MOUTH
You know what the worst part of the San Diego weekend is? Not the fact that I'm missing parties or stuff like that... it's the fact that I don't get to make a Big Announcement.
I mean, everyone else gets to Announce a new project or venture or whatever... and they usually wait until this weekend to do it. Now while I don't have anything big to announce this year, I do have some things coming up in 2005 I'd like to announce - so I think I'll do the same.
I'm going to try and make one Big Announcement for every day of the San Diego Convention. I'll make the Announcements on this blog and cross-post it to the Sequential Tart message board - exclusive Neil Kleid/RANT COMICS coverage here and at Tartsville! If the Pulse, CBR, Newsarama or whoever deem it newsworthy, they're free to pick it up.
Some of them will be important announcements... and some might just be fun tidbids about stories and whatnot I have coming out.... the point is they will be Announced on San Diego weekend 2004! From me! Here!
So keep checking back in!
OPEN MOUTH
Jen Contino just posted an exclusive 4 page preview of NINETY CANDLES at the PULSE! along with some commentary by yours truly. Feel free to head on over and check out some of I "DVD" commentary as I chat about what happened behind-the-scenes: technique, thought process and how the book almost never happened!
In addition, there's a completely different 5 page preview live on the Rant Comics website.
Enjoy!
OPEN MOUTH
Hunkered down before my shelf-less desk amid 23 duisty boxes of books here. Trying to keep quiet so my roomate doesn't twitch from his mad Bar study period session.
Very unproductive tonight - planned on leaving work early, buying much needed fruit and then writing 10-15 pages between BIG KAHN and BIT CITY after an hour long workout. Reality smacked me in the face and I spent the eve watching THE SOPRANOS, talking on the phone and looking at non-Dabb sanctioned porn.
But it's okay - I jogged a mile and a half last night and wrote 7 pages of KAHN (now at page 98) and 5 pages of BIT CITY (now at 35) and today was focused on getting a signing tour press release out. Plus, as one cute Long Island girl tells me, I don't need to be working to keep up with the Joneses - the work will get done as long as I don't overkill. This week is spent focusing on finishing a NINETY CANDLES sampler for retailers, printing copies of DAVID for the Jigsaw event and working on the two scripts. All the big boys are off playing at the Dorque De Soleil in San Diego this weekend, so the pitches I'm putting together for Chicago and Scholastic don't have to be rushed.
KAHN is moving along well - I'm aiming to have the full first draft of the script done by the time I head out to Chicago. At the very least, I have 75 good, solid pages to hand off to Scott to begin drawing before then. I'd like to nail down the final script and a contract in August. Then I can focus on BIT CITY and begin rewriting DEAD RONIN.
The big creative plan is to focus on writing this year. I have too many projects I've oushed off while working on anthologies cartoons. I'm only going to be drawing one thing this year, and that's AFTERLIFE, my next graphic novel. I'm not rushing this one - going to take it slow, and if it takes a year or two, that's fine. But I really want to finish writing several OGNs and the novel I have languishing on my hard drive, so again - writing is my focus for 04-05.
Spent a great Sunday in Ronkonkoma, NY... walked around Port Jefferson in the rain and saw I, ROBOT which saddened me a bit - I was expecting better. I'm trying to get myself out of the city as much as I can post-Fire Island, but the only downside is that it takes me away from the comics and deadlines... I suppose I need a happy medium, yes?
Ramble, ramble.
Finished Mario Puzo's THE SICILIAN last week and am now working my way through some of the Richard Bachman books again - LONG WALK, THE REGULATORS - and I want to see if I can harness some of that unique, quirky storytelling for AFTERLIFE and COFFIN, the novel. It's weird... I love writing the darker pieces but I seem to excel at lighter human drama tales and all-ages stories. Even my darker stories are lighter.
Ramble ramble.
Okay, I have nothing of import to say here. I should really be writing comics but I can't seem to focus. Came to the blog to try and jog the creative juices, but all I'm jogging to is my bed.
Fuck it - 'least I wrote something tonight.
Off to visit Nemo's Country. Peace.
OPEN MOUTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY - Rant Comics prepares for NINETY CANDLES pre-release summer signing tour
NINETY CANDLES, a Xeric-winning experimental graphic novella by Neil Kleid, debuted to acclaim this June at the MoCCA Arts Festival in New York. Post-MoCCA reviews have said about NINETY CANDLES: "About the most unique graphic novel I've read so far this year" and "what might happen if Chris Ware were to have created The Family Circus" (Alan David Doane, Comic Book Galaxy), "A touching story" (Steven Grant, Permanent Damage) and "glad that I read it " (Greg McElhatton, iComics).
This summer, Rant Comics offers advance copies of NINETY CANDLES at various venues leading to its September in-store ship date.
Thursday, August 5th, 2004: NINETY CANDLES NEW YORK RELEASE PARTY - THE LAST 25 YEARS
The official book release party for NINETY CANDLES will take place at Jigsaw, New York's latest venue for handmade art, independent/small press comics and shoestring media. Established this summer by dapper host Benjones, Jigsaw is located in New York's East Village and more information can be found at www.jigsawnyc.com
The party will feature music, refreshment and available copies of the book along with a special minicomic available only at the release. DAVID, a mixed media minicomic, explores family, brotherhood and mental health in a story almost too personal to tell. DAVID will not be produced after this print run and copies will be limited. Original artwork from NINETY CANDLES will be on display.
JIGSAW: 526 E 11th Street, NY NY
August 13-15, 2004: WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO
Wizard World Chicago happens the second weekend in August at The Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. This year, Neil Kleid and NINETY CANDLES will be stationed in the Artist's Alley at the Lightspeed Press table with Carla Speed McNeil, award-winning creator of FINDER. Along with NINETY CANDLES, Rant Comics will make available copies of LATE NIGHT BLOCK #1 and 2 (the latter featuring a cover by Ms. McNeil) and ashcans of BROWNSVILLE, a 196 page True Crime graphic novel by Kleid and artist Jake Allen debuting in 2005 from NBM Publishing.
Kleid will also be available to sign copies of the HERO HAPPY HOUR SUPER SPECIAL anthology published by GeekPunk, in which his and Neil (BLACK FOREST) Vokes' "Secret Origin" appears. The HERO HAPPY HOUR SUPER SPECIAL ships to stores this Wednesday, July 21. HHH creator/publisher Dan Taylor will be on hand in the Artist Alley at Table 9077 with copies of the anthology available for purchase.
Information about FINDER and Lightspeed Press can be found at www.lightspeedpress.com
Information about BROWNSVILLE and a cover preview can be found at rantcomics.com/rant-brownsville.html
Information about LATE NIGHT BLOCK can be found at rantcomics.com/rant-LNB.html
Information about GeekPunk and HERO HAPPY HOUR can be found at www.geekpunk.com
September 5 , 2004: NINETY CANDLES DETROIT RELEASE PARTY - WHOLE DAMN DAY
Neil Kleid makes his triumphant hometown return to the Detroit area with an all day signing at Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan. Green Brain is fast becoming the Detroit area's premier store for mainstream, independent and alternative comics and is already the chosen retailer of local cartoonists and comic book professionals. More information can be found at www.greenbrain.biz
Advance copies of NINETY CANDLES will be available from open until close (12pm - 5pm) and Kleid will be on hand to sign, sketch and regale fans and attendees with the sense of humor that got him run out of the Detroit area in the first place. Along with NINETY CANDLES, Rant Comics will make available copies of RANT COMICS #3, featuring "Suburbia", the first 11 pages of an ongoing story detailing Kleid's flight from suburban Detroit to New York and ashcans of BROWNSVILLE, a 196 page True Crime graphic novel by Kleid and artist Jake Allen debuting in 2005 from NBM Publishing.
GREEN BRAIN COMICS: 13210 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126 (Sunday hours 12pm-5pm)
NINETY CANDLES, funded by a grant from the Xeric Foundation, is a completely improvisational comic book - no script, no net. Each panel of NINETY CANDLES represents a consecutive year in the life of its protagonist, Kevin Hall. The "spaces" between panels morph into "spaces" between years and as such the reader experiences our intrepid cartoonist's life, the decisions that shape his existence from birth to death. More information can be found at rantcomics.com/rant-ninetycandles.html
Retailer Shelf Talkers are available for download at: rantcomics.com/rant-90cshelftalker.html
NINETY CANDLES, a 48 page graphic novella published by Rant Comics, is listed on page 314 of the July PREVIEWS catalog.
Diamond Item Number: JUL043096. Cost: $5.95
The Xeric Foundation: www.xericfoundation.com
Additionally, for those unable to attend these shows, a limited number of BROWNSVILLE ashcans will be available at the NBM booth (# 1429) at this weekend's San Diego Comic-Con (July 21-25). Drop by and pick one up early because once they're gone - they're gone!
Information about BROWNSVILLE and a cover preview can be found at rantcomics.com/rant-brownsville.html
Information about NBM Publishing can be found at www.nbmpublishing.com
Information about the San Diego Comic-Con can be found at www.comic-con.org
OPEN MOUTH
"A strong hook is always good for getting a reader's attention. Something different, something experimental, something to make it stand out from the crowd. That's certainly present in Neil Kleid's Ninety Candles, a comic where each panel is the next year in his protagonist's life. The question is, once Kleid has the reader's attention, can he keep it? "
Check out a fairly even-handed review of NINETY CANDLES by Greg McElhatton over at iComics.com
OPEN MOUTH
I'll be attending from August 13-15. I'll be sitting at Carla Speed McNeill's table in the Artist's Alley, helping her with her FINDER kingdom.
I'll have copies of NINETY CANDLES, ashcans of BROWNSVILLE and severla minis for sale, so please stop by! If you find me near Scott Chantler's table, ask us about THE BIG KAHN, our upcoming OGN.
Also, the website has now been updated with NINETY CANDLES shelf talkers - grab some for your local store!
OPEN MOUTH
So, it's becoming clear, with some of the reviews coming in, that I need to explain a bit more about my intentions with NINETY CANDLES. Some reviewers are starting to get hung up on the chronology of the story - and rightfully so. I figured one of the main criticisms I was going to get is that while the story spans roughly 90 years, it feels like it's all happening TODAY. I'm expecting every reviewer to say something along those lines.
And they'd be right.
But here's the thing... I think people need to realize that as the creator, I didn't want to get hung up on the progression of CULTURAL sequence... rather wants to focus on the progression of PERSONAL sequence. You see, NINETY CANDLES is about a personal journey - one man's choices and decisions made within the comic book industry and life in general. Would it have been cool to go a step beyond and have the story reflect changing fashion and trends, cultural and political trends and the like? Sure. But when I was creating the book... I felt watching the protagonist's world altering over the years might distract from what the book was REALLY about - his life, his career, his family, his legacy.
I make no bones about the fact that the book is semi-autobiographic. Apart from his wedding, the protagonist's life until year 30 is almost to the letter the life I've lived. From then on, I created a "projected" autobiographic story - the life I imagine leading if I stay this course. Now, while I see myself living through cultural and technological changes, I don't think my world will be drastically altered to the point where I'll be zooming around in flying cars and telepathically downloading comics to my universal readership while on the sonic-toilet. Things will change... but I don't know how or to what extent.
One of the great things I've been hearing about NINETY CANDLES from those who have read it, is that ANYONE can pick it up and relate to it. The nine year old kid. The sixteen year old wanna be creator. The forty year old hack. The seventy year old golden ager. Pick the book up - you see a section of your life, at any given point. I didn't want those inthe golden years of their career to pick up the book, flip to page 80 and see tiny robots or weird metallic clothing - I wanted them to say "Hey - that's me right now!" It's a tricky tightrope to walk.
I'll tell you a secret - there's a panel in the book that betrays the entire chronology/passing of cultural time, proving these reviewers correct. Panel 81 has an aged Kevin Hall in a comic book store... and a sign reading "NEW COMICS" points to several comic books that you can buy in today's shop - DEMO, GABAGOOL, BILLY DOGMA. There's even a sign heralding a signing by Tom Beland - who, if the chronology/continuity stuck to the way reviewers were hoping, would be very, very old at the time. Tom is in his forties now, I believe. Thirties? Don't kill me, Tom.
In any event... if you're looking to pick up this book and see time progress to the point that the characters are in some weird future where everyone talks via their mind - don't pick up the book. If you're hung up about the Cultural Sequence of Time then this book won't do it for you. Fuck continuity - this book is about a PERSONAL JOURNEY. It's about the sequence of events in a life, a career. The story has a beginning, a middle and an end - as does life. Steven Grant used the term "crystallization" and I dig that: a crystallized period ot time. Think of it this way: It's a story that progresses sequentially, experimenting with time and pacing via technique and storytelling...but captures itself in a crystallized era - one that, I feel, might continue with minor changes over the years...but really not change DRASTICALLY. it's a story that anyone can relate to - anyone living NOW, at the time of publication.
Although if we're all flying around in our personal starships in ten years, you have every right to come to my house and kick my ass.
Remember - try and look past the cultural chronology. Once you do, you'll discover a rather unique and experimental method of storytelling, an a rather touching story while you're at it. One that even YOU might be able to see in your own life.
OPEN MOUTH
Prolific comic book writer and columnist Steven Grant takes a moment to review NINETY CANDLES in today's PERMANENT DAMAGE over at Comic Book Resources.
While getting a bit stuck on the experimental chronology of the book, he DOES call it "a touching story, pretty well done."
Yeah, I kinda figured the "time" aspect was going to fly for some; fail for others.
"Crystallized time." I rather like that.
Thanks, Steven!
INSERT FOOT
Poor Hulk. So many coherent thoughts. Such halting vocabulary.
I, for one, would buy some "Hulk Feet."
OPEN MOUTH
Earlier tonight, I received an email from Jeff Mason of Alternative Comics. Jeff publishes a great deal of wonderful books including the work of my friends Dean (OPPOSABLE THUMBS) Haspiel, Nick (RUBBER NECKER) Bertozzi. Damon (MY UNCLE JEFF, A SORT OF HOMECOMING) Hurd and Josh (A FEW PERFECT HOURS) Neufeld. Jeff also kindly put out the wonderful 9-11:EMERGENCY RELIEF anthology in which my story, "Letters from A Broken Apple" appears. Alternative Comics is now suffering a financial crisis due to money owed them by LPC, and I'd personally be grateful if you could dig into your pockets and offer up anything you can spare. I plan on buying Adam Sacks' SALMON DOUBTS and Josh's Xeric winning A FEW PEREFECT HOURS - both beautiful looking books.It'd be great to keep Jeff putting out comics... especially as I have dreams of putting work out under his banner in the future!
The email reads:
OPEN LETTER – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alternative Comics needs your help!
Please buy our books from your local comic book store to help Alternative Comics survive!
Dear Comics Fans:
I’m Jeff Mason making a direct appeal to you, our faithful readers, in a time of serious financial difficulty. If you could find a way to buy some of our books listed below, you would greatly help in our time of financial crisis. Please check off the books you want below and then buy these books from your favorite retailer. You can also use the checklist in the back of your copy of Alternative Comics #2 that was given out by your local comic book store on Free Comic Book Day. If your retailer does not stock our comics and books, they can use this form below as a way to order our in-stock titles form any of our distributors.
Alternative Comics is suffering some very dire cash flow problems and I am turning to you for help. In the spring of 2002 our book trade distributor, LPC, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy owing Alternative Comics a lot of money. I had hoped that I could weather the storm by taking money from my savings and by borrowing on credit until receiving the agreed-upon 42% of what LPC owed us. Now over two years later, LPC is still in bankruptcy proceedings and I am completely out of savings and credit.
In the past (prior to LPC) I had ample working capital – I had great credit terms with my various printers. Now (post LPC) I have absolutely no working capital and must pay up front to print every book.
For each publication, I now wait for all of the retailer advance orders to come in to Diamond, then I contract Diamond to assign the payment they'd pay to me to my printer to print the book. This contractual agreement costs money and cuts into our razor thin margin.
Lack of cash on hand has also caused me to have to shrink print runs on some books. This increases the cost per unit of each book, and speeds the looming reprint costs.
I've been increasing my publishing schedule over the last two years, and in hindsight, I expanded too quickly. Alternative Comics is moving forward with a much more reasonable, much more foresighted publishing schedule, with some really amazing projects in the works!
Alternative Comics’ cash flow problems have been the only reason for not yet reprinting Bipolar #1 and Humor Can Be Funny as well as having been the only reason a number of books have been arriving late or re-solicited.
I am asking you to please buy Alternative Comics books from your local retailers. In my fanciful imagination, the best result would be for retailers to quickly sell out of all Alternative Comics books in inventory to customers and hurriedly place nice reorders with distributors.
Alternative Comics has no staff other than myself, so I am unable to handle orders directly. I ask that readers buy from your local comic book retailers, and retailers to buy from your favorite distributors.
The single most important variable for our publishing efforts is the number of comics or books advance ordered by retailers. Retailers decide their advance orders of books based on what you, the reader, let them know you want to buy. Currently, we have the following books scheduled for release in September 2004. These books are in all of the distributors’ catalogs right now. If you want to get copies of these books, please let your local comic book retailer know!
JUL04 2534, A Few Perfect Hours and Other Stories by Josh Neufeld (Xeric Winner), $12.95
JUL04 2535, Escalator by Brandon Graham, $12.95
JUL04 2537, SLOWPOKE: America Gone Bonkers by Jen Sorensen, $12.95
JUL04 2538, Turtle, turtle by Jed Alexander, $11.95
JUL04 2539, Waterwise by Joel Orff (Featured Item), $14.95
If you can find it in your hearts to help Alternative Comics, I will be eternally grateful.
Thank you,
Jeff Mason
Publisher – Alternative Comics
Alternative Comics In-Stock Inventory:
(All books are For Mature Readers unless otherwise listed)
81/2 Ghosts by Rich Tommaso,
OCT032023,
$3.95
9-11: Emergency Relief anthology,
STAR14976,
$14.95
A Fine Mess #1 by Matt Madden,
STAR16707,
$3.50
A Sort of Homecoming #1 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello,
AUG031946,
$3.50
A Sort of Homecoming #2 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello,
OCT032024,
$3.50
A Sort of Homecoming #3 (Of 3) by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello,
DEC032049,
$3.50
Aim to Dazzle #1 by Dean Haspiel,
STAR18706,
$3.50
At The Seams by Ed Brubaker,
APR970889,
$2.95
Bipolar #2 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret,
FEB031705,
$2.95
Bipolar #3 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret,
AUG021800,
$2.95
Bipolar #4 by Tomer and Asaf Hanuka & Etgar Keret,
FEB031703,
$2.95
Cusp by Thomas Herpich,
STAR17617,
$3.95
Fancy Froglin’s Sexy Forest by James Kochalka,
STAR19473,
$12.95
Fantastic Butterflies by James Kochalka,
STAR16427,
$14.95
further Grickle by Graham Annable,
STAR20266,
$14.95
Gongwanadon by Thomas Herpich,
APR042245,
$4.95
Grand Gestures by Robert Ullman,
STAR18392,
$3.95
Grickle by Graham Annable,
STAR13433,
$14.95
Hi-Horse Omnibus volume 1,
DEC032043,
$11.95
Hickee anthology volume 1,
STAR17747,
$12.95
Hickee anthology volume 2 #1,
JUL031924,
$4.95
Lemon Kids #1 by Steven Weissman,
DEC981048,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #1 by Sam Henderson,
JAN981201,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #2 by Sam Henderson,
MAY980959,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #3 by Sam Henderson,
NOV981083,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #4 by Sam Henderson,
OCT001841,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #5 by Sam Henderson,
JUL011796,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #6 by Sam Henderson,
JAN022172,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #7 by Sam Henderson,
JUN021977,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #8 by Sam Henderson,
OCT022291,
$2.95
Magic Whistle #9 by Sam Henderson,
DEC032045,
$11.95
The Masochists by Nick Bertozzi,
STAR16817,
$14.95
Mermaid by James Kochalka,
FEB981117,
$2.95
Monica’s Story by Jon Lewis, James Kochalka, and Tom Hart,
NOV981084,
$2.95
My Uncle Jeff by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello,
STAR19971,
$3.95
Never Ending Summer by Allison Cole,
DEC032044,
$11.95
Opposable Thumbs #1 by Dean Haspiel,
MAY011908,
$4.95
Peanutbutter & Jeremy’s Best Book Ever (all ages) by James Kochalka,
SEP031997,
$14.95
Peanutbutter & Jeremy: Nest & Window Exchange by James Kochalka,
STAR16762,
$2.95
Quit Your Job by James Kochalka,
STAR16112,
$6.95
RabbitHead by Rebecca Dart,
FEB042052,
$4.95
Rosetta anthology volume 1,
STAR16769,
$19.95
Rosetta anthology volume 2,
DEC032046,
$19.95
Rubber Necker #1 by Nick Bertozzi,
STAR18999,
$3.50
Rubber Necker #2 by Nick Bertozzi,
STAR19000,
$3.50
Rubber Necker #3 by Nick Bertozzi,
STAR18942,
$3.50
Rubber Necker #4 by Nick Bertozzi,
NOV031971,
$3.50
Salmon Doubts by Adam Sacks,
MAR042170,
$14.95
Spectacles #1 by Jon Lewis,
MAR970730,
$2.95
Spectacles #2 by Jon Lewis,
MAR970728,
$2.95
Strum & Drang: Great Moments in Rock ‘n’ Roll by Joel Orff,
STAR18518,
$6.95
Subway Series by Leela Corman,
STAR16775,
$9.95
Sunburn by James Kochalka,
JUL001552,
$2.95
Sweaterweather (all ages) by Sara Varon,
STAR18948,
$11.95
Titans of Finance by Josh Neufeld and R. Walker,
STAR16777,
$3.50
Triple Dare #2 by James Kochalka, Tom Hart, and Nick Bertozzi,
MAY021760,
$2.95
True Swamp: Stoneground and Hillbound by Jon Lewis,
JUN011872,
$4.95
True Swamp: Underwoods and Overtime by Jon Lewis,
JUL001551,
$4.95
Urban Hipster #1 by David Lasky and Greg Stump,
DEC022415,
$2.95
Urban Hipster #2 by David Lasky and Greg Stump,
DEC022416,
$2.95
The Vagabonds #1 by Josh Neufeld,
APR031923,
$2.95
When I’m Old and Other Stories by Gabrielle Bell,
STAR18175,
$12.95
The White Elephant by Damon Hurd and Christopher Steininger,
MAR042172,
$8.95
Yellow Baby #1 by Jed Alexander,
MAY031912,
$3.95
Jeff Mason - Publisher
Alternative Comics
Web: http://www.indyworld.com/altcomics
Forum: http://www.talkaboutcomics.com/index2.php?c=28#alt
OPEN MOUTH
Spent the last hour calling some retailers - setting up a NINETY CANDLES signing for Labor Day at GreenBrain in Detroit... left a message for Amanda Fisher at Muse in Montana - but I accidentally called the wrong store! Gah!
Forgot most retailers are in pre-SDCC frenzy so I spoke for half a sec with both Rory Root at Comic Relief and James Sime at Isotope - will be calling Mister Sime back on Friday to talk in store marketing.
Which reminds me... gotta do a shelf talker for stores!
Spending tonight drawing a page of AFTERLIFE and writing BIG KAHN and BIT CITY. Might even open up a mosh pit on your ass.
How are you spending your eve, surly?
OPEN MOUTH
So, my pal Jodi was googling my name (man, that just sounds dirty) and ended up finding this guy's blog:
Apparently, he was one of the guys who signed up to try out for the BEAR SUITS piece I did for the CBLDF EVEN MORE FUND anthology for Sky-Dog. To be honest, I must have had 20-30 artists I was talking to and to my credit, I ended up with a great one (Fernando Pinto) while only actually doing any real damage to another (JW Zornow, who screwed due to my shitty email provider...sorry JW... I hope I can make it up to you...!)
But this guy really seems to have taken it personally:
"Tonight, I've got to whip up some character designs for a story that will appear in More Fund for the CBLDF table at the Baltimore Comicon. It's written by Neil Kleid, who seems pretty interested in my work... "
"From Neil Kleid (who I've never heard of, or seen any of his shit in print, because he makes comics out of his basement), about my drawing style, in reference to doing about 12 hours of FREE work for his silly bear suit story:
'Actually, your style is right around eactly what i might be after.... but a
little cleaner, sleeker and tighter. Think more to the side of Udon style
art... clean lines, sharp edges. Also, this needs to be computer lettered."
lettering on computer sucks my ass, and he's the fucking writer, and he has a computer, so why am I doing 80% of the fucking work? He came up with four fucking panels about guys hanging out in a comic book store."
"That fucking Neil Kleid dude emailed me yesterday stating that he found someone else to draw his retarded comic... glad I wasted time working on the dumb shit. I didn't want to do it anymore, anyway. I mean, c'mon... it's called 'Bear Suits' for fuck's sake. I refuse to work on any comic that doesn't include skulls, ninja, demons, swords, or half naked vampires. The comic book industry is really really unrewarding, anyway. I make more at my current job than if I were drawing for Marvel, for christ's sake. That just dawned on me the other day. I don't need some lonely-ass hack cartoonist's approval or recommendation, and that's that.
I like beer. I like money. I like cheese. I like boobies. I like skeletons. I like weed. I like Psylocke. I like yelling 'BRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWHHHHHHH!!" and pumping my fist. I like the Sopranos. I like malt vinegar. I like being choked. I like being nostalgic. I like black things. I like volleyball. I like cool sneakers. I like Street Fighter. I like pizza. I like blowjobs. I like new strings on my guitar. I like Roland Deschaine. I pretty much hate or at least tolerate everything else."
...yeah.
I can see this guy going far in comics. Sure.
But then I'm just a lonely-ass hack cartoonist sitting in my 2 bedroom Manhattan apartment, paid for with design and comic book writing money, crying myself to sleep with my Xeric Grant money for my first graphic novella, and my advance money for the 196 page OGN I wrote for NBM Publishing. I won't even take into account the 8-10 anthologies I've been asked to be part of.
Oh, and I like computer lettering. And I also like blowjobs... the only difference between me and that dude is that I recieve.
OPEN MOUTH
Ed Mathews, the EIC of PopImage takes a second to include NINETY CANDLES in his July 7th editorial at PopImage.com!
Ed says "most anyone can pick it up and get captured by the pathos of normal life."
Click on over to read more about NINETY CANDLES and Ed's mini-MoCCA report!
OPEN MOUTH
Big thanks to Alan David Doane for giving NINETY CANDLES a 4.5 out of 5 grade!
Doane calls NINETY CANDLES "the most unique graphic novel I've read so far this year" and in comparing it to other work, labels it "what might happen if Chris Ware were to have created The Family Circus."
NINETY CANDLES, a 48 page improvisational graphic novella by Rant Comics, listed in the July Previews; $5.95 USD
Diamond Order Code: JUL04 3096
A small preview of NINETY CANDLES appears here
OPEN MOUTH
Reviews are starting to roll in on NINETY CANDLES, and there's a small one here
Rich, Rich, Rich... I usually take criticism with a grain of salt and let things slide off my back... but... I think you've missed the thrust of the book. It's not about specific time or specific things - it's about time in general. Vietnam, changes in vernacular and so forth... if the story started commenting on the Cola Wars or on the Iraqi conflict then wouldn't that simply distract from the main story? If I was reading a book about a cartoonist's life and comics, etc and suddenly there's a big ol' thing in there about glam rock or the Gulf War, well, It'd take me out of the story, wouldnt it? I think including historical events and whatnot would HURT the storytelling and it's the somewhat vague timeline that helps us focus on what the story IS about and not what it COULD HAVE BEEN about.
I chose to illustrate the story myself because I wanted to tell the story here in a certain way. Collaborating with Jamesmith or another artist would have killed the entire "no script" improvisational aspect of the novella, wouldn't it? Sure, my drawing skills are nowhere as refined and polished as James or another better artist... but I was focused on telling a story - and was willing to do so with my style.
Anyway, I'm back from Fire Island, a little tired and burnt, but none worse for the wear. Got some emails from Jake to follow up and apparently I have a few folks who want to know how to get copies of 90C - so must get on it. But briefly: Looks like I might very well be at WizardWodl Chicago, helping out Carla Speed McNeill at her table....so I think I'll bring some copies of 90C and BROWNSVILLE ashcans. For all youse going to San Diego - LUCKY BASTARDS! - NBM will have some copies of the ashcan, as well.
I'm riding high, kids. Got some sun, seen SPIDERMAN 2 twice now, got a LOT of sketches for AFTERLIFE, my next cartoon book done over the week and I'm ready to jump back into BIT CITY and THE BIG KAHN for their respective publishers.
Ain't life grand?
Talk to me. How was your week?
OPEN MOUTH
While half the city spent last night exploding their fingers with firecrackers, I paid honor to the holiday by watching THE GREAT ESCAPE - making sure I paid attention to the Fourth of July/Ives death scene. It, along with much of my weekend reading has picked me up and inspired me to get the hell back to work.
Of course, that's after vacation.
Yeah, I'm on vacation since Friday until next Monday. Spent Thursday night eating fie poppers and onion rings and then saw a late showing of SPIDEY 2. My review? "Hi, I"m Spiderman. Have you seen my face?" However (spoilers, folks. Oh, can we say spoiler? Praise Gawd) the Willem Dafoe cameo was great.
Friday was a pain in the ass - walked around the city with a big box of comics. Sold 20 copies of NINETY CANDLES and about 25 minis to Hanley's. Sold 15 90C's and about 8 minis to Midtown Comics. 5 90C's to Jigsaw (while setting up the release party - August 5th, kids! Mark dem calendars!) and 3 to Forbidden Planet. Not a bad day's work. Then I came home and mailed out 20 review copies to every damn reviewer I know and want to know.
The weekend for the most part has been laid back - read a bunch of comics in honor of Free Comic Book Day which I will never be able to celebrate because it will always be on Saturday, thanks very much. Worked my way through QUIMBY THE MOUSE, EIGHTBALL 23 (freaking GENIUS), Sam Hiti's TIEMPOS FINALES, several GIJOE books and the book I had gotten for my vacation - DARK TOWER VI: SONG OF SUSANNAH.... man now I can't WAIT for the last chapter of this. 'Course, now I need to go buy a new book to read this week!
Today I am going to a friend for a barbecue and then tomorrow I have to get ready for my trip. It's weired, not having someone to celebrate the holiday with this year... Friday, in fact, was a day of ex-girlfriends as I rant into one who I had a great coversation with (mostly about SPIDERMAN), one I hadn't seen in a year and mused about one who contacted me this week and disappeared when I tried to contact her. Odd.
Anyway, I'm off to the Fire Island beach house again. I always go there and get inspired by the sun, bay and peacefulness. I'm planning on bringing a big sketchbook and writing pad. It's going to be the perfect place to outline the first volume of WALLY MEIERS (of which I've had some great ideas this weekend- many relating to the professors is the Institute and Wally's quest itself) and start sketching/creating the first issue of AFTERLIFE, my treatise on Heaven and Hell. I may also flesh out the outline for BIT CITY so that when I return, I can knock out the script and get it to Travis (whose contract hasn't arrived yet?)
I REALLY need to get back to DEAD RONIN. Like, now.
Apart from that, nothing much has been going on. Sent off a solicited pitch packet to Devils Due on Thursday. Got the BEAR SUITS pages into John at the EVEN MORE FUND anthology and this month my HERO HAPPY HOUR story debuts in the SUPER SPECIAL.
There's a 4 page preview of NINETY CANDLES, complete with director's commentary going up on the Pulse this week while I'm gone. There's also a 5 page preview up on the Rant Comics/ Ninety Candles page of my site, so feel free to have a look. I'm waiting to see some reviews from MoCCA buyers roll in - Ed Cunard tells me he's doing up a big review on ComicWorldNews and I think Trisha Sebastian is going to do one for Sequential Tart.
Oh, and I'm thinking of switching my blog to Livejournal... anyone have any idea how to do this and if I can set up my archive there? Also, anyone willing to generously offer their services to redesign my site? I can pay a little... but some of the quotes I'm getting are astronomical and I REALLY need a redesign. I'm a print designer' not a web guy.
Drop me a holler at
Oh, and enjoy the Roman Candles and Ballpark Franks. They plump when you set them off.