Tops of the year

Seems like this time of year everyone is making their list of the top books, albums and movies for the year. So that I will have a reason to update my blog, I'll do the same. I'll start with my picks for the top 5 books of this year.

5- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski: It's a long story at just over 500 pages about a mute boy that comes to think that his father's death is not an accident and that his uncle has nefarious plans involving his mother and the house and barn that his father's father built from scratch. Also involved is a highly specialized dog breeding business and a ghost. A great study of characters patterned loosely after Hamlet.

4- Baltimore: The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Christopher Golden: A great vampire yarn with atmosphere out the wazoo. It doesn't hurt that the book is littered with illustrations by Mike Mignola as well. This is an alternate take on the plague in Europe and a riff off of The Steadfast Tin Soldier tale of Hans Christian Anderson.

3- Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow: An epic prose poem in the vein of Homer meets Stephen King. A tale of weredogs in the city that certainly has bite. The writing is high octane and several of the passages are a beauty to behold. Don't let the format scare you away.

2- Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler: Apparently this is a reissue but I'm glad for it or I would have missed another excellent entry in the mystery genre. This book tells the tale of the first case of the now a bit long in the tooth pair of British detectives in the Peculiar Crimes Unit. The setting is an old theater in London that holds shadows of a phantom. Witty and a lot of fun. I can't wait to devour the rest of the series.

1- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: The Jungle Book but change the setting to a graveyard and the black panther to a vampire. The story is told in a series of chapters with each happening when Bod (the orphaned boy living amongst the graveyard) is a different age. A magical book with scenes that linger in your mind like ghosts long after you put the book to rest.

That's the list. Stay tuned for my top movie picks.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my wonderful wife!

Other than cake and presents, the evening will include viewing the new Chuck episode and possibly Heroes. My patience is starting to wear thin with Heroes but I may give it one more night to entice me to stay. In case anyone is keeping track, I have already stopped viewing Fringe.

One more item. How cool is the new Star Trek movie preview? Very. Nuff said.

I'm Back

So much for updating the blog more often. Oh well.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I seem to have a lot more free time, so in theory, I will be updating the blog more often. I'll play catch up with a couple of movie reviews.

Quantum of Solace is a great action movie that happens to involve James Bond. I really like the direction the Bond franchise is going and can't but hope that Craig is involved for the long haul. His Bond is an ice bomb moving one hundred miles an hour. Although in both Casino Royale and now Quantum of Solace we come away with a peak at the burning heart underneath all the cool. The only down side to the film is that the song during the opening credits is not a very good fit. I'm sure that it will be great hearing it on the radio but it doesn't gel for me with the film or Bond milieu. Also, the opening credit sequence was a bit of a let down after the stellar sequence for Casino Royale. Don't let these deter you. See the flick.

Hellboy 2 is a wonder to behold. If you liked the first Hellboy movie then you will fall in love with this one. All of the characters are taken to the next level and that includes the action as well. A new character, Yohan Strauss, adds some tension and one hilarious moment. Love abounds. Songs are song. Giant indestructible golden clockwork armies with forges for hearts are dispatched. See the movie now.

As a side note; if you like the Hellboy movies you should check out the comic book that is used for the inspiration. There are differences but you won't be disappointed.

That's it for now.

State of the Uncanny

Just a little update on where things stand on all of my projects. I am on page three of the script for Count Obsideo issue 3. This definitely is going to be a 4 issue series unless I have a brain explosion and some plot altering fireball burns its way into the story.

I am still in the middle of writing an all ages novel (The Fabric of Night) but I haven't looked at it for a while. I hope to get right back to this as soon as possible because the characters simply will not let me go on without finishing there journey. Their kind of a sticky bunch.

I am really close to the final draft on my children's picture book story. I hope to finish soon and start the process of sending it to editors and agents. It will hopefully be in your little werewolf's hands soon.

Um...that's about it. If something exciting happens, I'll let you know.

The Missing

So...I've been kind of lax in updating this blog. I know. I'll work on it. It's been more difficult now that I have a Deviant Art page as well. I know have two blogs that I can forget to update.

I have finished the script for the second issue of Count Obsideo and will start the third issue any day now. I have already begun plotting it and get the feeling that the limited series will end up being four issues instead of five.

You can hop on over to the Deviant Art page to see my post about trying to find another local writer to go in on a booth at the Planetcomicon in March. No takers yet.

I never posted a review of The Dark Knight and now it seems the time has passed, suffice to say that it is really good. You should go see it.

Extremely sad to hear of Carlos Meglia's passing away. He was one of my favorite artists and I never seemed to find enough of his work to satiate me. If you Google it, you can find a nice eulogy written by Humberto Ramos. He knew Carlos far better than I.

Looks like I am going to have to find a part time job on top of my full time job so let's hope that my writing doesn't suffer too much. There is always the weekend, yes?

Hulk Smash!

Saw the new Hulk movie on Friday. I have mixed feelings about it and can't help but compare it to the previous Hulk movie. This one had plenty of action, which is cool, and the quiet parts between Bruce and Betty were very good...but the movie seemed to be missing something. I think it was heart. There were a few times where I felt something but then the hulk would show up or Mr. Blonsky would be running at super speed and dodging the Hulk's punches. You can say many things about Ang Lee's Hulk but one of them is not that it lacked heart. I was also not thrilled by the way they decided to animate the Hulk in this movie. He's almost too detailed and kind of grimy. I prefer the more rounded and greener Hulk in Ang Lee's movie (He seemed like he had actual mass).

The acting is good in the new one. Edward Norton is good and Liv Tyler makes a good Betty. Tim Roth did good with what he had and John Hurt was passable. Tim Blake Nelson was also good as the-man-soon-to-be-the-Leader. I think I liked Eric Bana better as Banner and as far as I'm concerned Sam Elliot is General Ross. In addition, Nick Nolte elevates any picture, as far as I'm concerned.

So, I guess I would say that The Incredible Hulk is good but not great. Certainly no Iron Man.

Count Obsideo

In my ongoing quest to find an artist for Count Obsideo, I have posted an ad at Digital Webbing. I included the first five pages of the script. I figure that if I included it there, the world can now see it, and I should include it here as well.

I know I have mentioned my paranoid nature before, but there aren't a lot of details of the entire storyline or even the powers of Count Obsideo so I feel safe posting this. Besides, I have to break new ground to really bait the hook for the elusive carnivorous species called comic book artist.

Here it is...

PAGE ONE:
PANEL 1- The panel is black but for the glow of a light in the distance.

CAPTION
Such a simple thing.

PANEL 2- Small panel, extreme close-up of Count Obsideo’s eye. Some of his arm is covering his face beneath the eye. He’s straining in action but unclear exactly what he is doing.

CAPTION
One light.

PANEL 3- Move in closer to the glowing light. We can begin to tell it is a fire. Some of the immediate area around the fire is illuminated; a railway car and tracks.

CAPTION
In a world of darkness, sometimes it is all that’s needed.

PANEL 4- Small panel, extreme close-up of the top of Count Obsideo’s head. A large scaly hand is reaching to grab it.

PANEL 5- We can clearly tell now that the fire is in a railway yard. You can show the fire but Count Obsideo is still outside the panel. You can show a shadow of the following scene on one of the railway cars if you want. I don’t know if it matters to you yet, but the railway yard is in Kansas.

CAPTION
To show someone the way.

NOTE- Feel free to sprinkle other small panels of Count Obsideo locked in combat as long as the page is not too cluttered looking. Make sure all of them are extreme close-ups.

PAGE TWO:
PANEL 1- Splash page. Count Obsideo is fighting with Duke Dragon. Count Obsideo has the Duke in a headlock, which clearly takes great strength because the Duke is easily twice or three times his size. The Duke is breathing fire. The rail yard around them is in flames. Duke Dragon is wearing prison fatigues, black and white stripes. His clothes are ripped since he is usually normal size but grows into the monster. He recently escaped incarceration. Currently the Duke is trying to get Count Obsideo off of him before he runs out of breath.
Note- STRANGER SAVIOUR, PART ONE, is in large font across the page somewhere.

CAPTION
Occasionally the light needs a little help.

PANEL 2- Duke Dragon slams backwards into a train bed, crushing Count Obsideo.

SFX
TCHCRASH!

PAGE THREE:
PANEL 1- Duke Dragon goes down on one knee. His arms flail behind him trying to grab Count Obsideo.

DUKE DRAGON
Get…off me…freak!

PANEL 2- Count Obsideo seems to tighten his hold.

COUNT OBSIDEO
21% of oxygen is needed for optimum burning, exactly the percentage you need to breathe. I would save your breathe if I were you.

PANEL 3- A few puffs of smoke escape from the Duke’s nostrils as his eyes roll back into his head and he losses consciousness.

DUKE DRAGON
Wha….

PANEL 4- Duke Dragon falls onto his face. Count Obsideo lands behind him a few feet. Fire is all around them.

PANEL 5- Count Obsideo carries Duke Dragon through the fire. He has the Duke over his shoulder.

PANEL 6- Close up on Count Obsideo’s head as he realizes something happened. He just lost his super strength.

COUNT OBSIDEO
Oh, great.

PAGE FOUR:
Panel 1- Count Obsideo is partway underneath the still unconscious Duke Dragon. Count Obsideo no longer has the strength to move the Duke’s massive body off of him. A fire engine siren wails in the distance.

COUNT OBSIDEO
I suppose this is what I get for taking an easy job, practically in my own backyard, for once. Giant mutant salamanders in Guatemala, I can handle. One fire breathing runaway con in Kansas, obviously not so much.

SFX
WROOOOOO!
WROOOOOO!

Panel 2- Count Obsideo tries to push himself out from under Duke Dragon. No luck.

Panel 3- Count Obsideo tries again. No luck.

Panel 4- Count Obsideo eventually succeeds in rolling out from under the Duke. He is attempting to stand again. He and the Duke are at the edge of the blaze of fire.

COUNT OBSIDEO
How embarrassing.

PAGE FIVE:
Panel 1- We see the shadow of Count Obsideo fall across the still unconscious Duke Dragon’s back. The light from the flames exaggerate the silhouette. The sirens sound closer.

COUNT OBSIDEO
Well, my dragon friend, I place you in the hands of the almighty God and those of the authorities.
SFX
(Larger letters then last time.)
WROOOOOOO!
WROOOOOOO!

Panel 2- Close up of Count Obsideo from about the chest or waist up. His head is tilted down.

COUNT OBSIDEO
May you find…

Panel 3- Same shot of Count Obsideo as before. His head is tilted up. He is fading away.

COUNT OBSIDEO
…mercy.

Panel 4- The same shot as before but now Count Obsideo is completely invisible. It is like nothing is there.

Panel 5- Pull back and look down at the scene. A fire truck pulls up to the railway area with lights flashing. A police car is there too. Firefighters are rushing to get out of the vehicle and put the fire out. Maybe a police officer can be getting out of their car too. You can even draw a small BBQ joint if you pull back far enough, no customers though. The only other buildings that might be around the railway yard are a couple of warehouses. The fire is concentrated in one area of the railway yard but spreading fast. We can make out the spot where Count Obsideo left Duke Dragon. There is no sign of Count Obsideo.

PAGE SIX:
Panel 1- Close up of Count Obsideo’s mask on a mannequin head. The mannequin is a head only, like you would find in a hat store or something.

CAPTION
He’s called “Count Obsideo”.

Panel 2- Pull back to see the mannequin head is on a stand sitting on a desk. There is a large mirror with round lights across the top. There is a picture of Vincent Platt (head shot) taped to the mirror along with a few small posters for movies he has starred in. The movies have titles like “The Devil Hands” and “Space Zombies”. Count Obsideo’s gloves are on the desk along with pens, paper, several newspapers, a laptop computer and maybe a can of cola. In the reflection of the mirror we can see tall bookcases filled with books and an open door. Count Obsideo’s costume is hanging from the back of the open door on an ordinary clothes hanger. The open door leads to another room, but it’s hard to tell what kind of room. All of the light in the room comes from the open doorway.

CAPTION
It’s a name he came up with himself. It sounded like someone Boris Karloff would have played.

Proof that Tony Stark has a heart

I think I've said before that I am not too happy with the way Iron Man has been portrayed in the comics as of late but, after seeing the new Iron Man movie, I can only hope that Marvel is taking notes. Iron Man is one of the best comic book movies of all time. Totally excellent. Robert Downey Jr. nails the character and everything else is pitch perfect. Now if they have the Mandarin and Fin Fang Foom in the next one it will be bliss.

I'm still searching for an artist for Count Obsideo. I have contacted a few people but have yet to hear back from them. It is difficult to sell yourself as a writer, more so than as an artist. An artist can include a bunch of samples with an e-mail but I am hesitant to do the same with a character and series that I have created due to the risk of someone stealing it. I may be paranoid but it's the way I feel right now. I am more than welcome to send a proposal and sample of my script to an artist if they show interest but feel it to be pushy and risky to include that with my first contact. I may have to just get over that. If they see my writing then maybe that will inspire them to want to pencil it. I guess we'll just have to see which side of me wins out; the one that is overprotective of my creations or the one that is desperate to find an artist to get the project rolling and out to the public. I'll keep you updated.

Still writing issue 2 of Count Obsideo. The monster has just attacked the ship once again and Captain Nod has that slightly mad glint in his eye.

Count on danger...

I'm a day late but I have officially changed the name of The Ghoul to...drumroll please...COUNT OBSIDEO. It's a little odd, I know, but so am I. Obsideo is Latin for haunt. I tried Count Haunt but it doesn't roll of the toungue well.

When choosing names for a character I go through tons of options until one just fits and this one does that. It fits with the B-Movie/pulp hero/ monsters/ fun vibe that I am going for. Plus it lends itself great for marketing.

Count on danger.
Count on monsters.
Count Obsideo.

M.I.A.

Yes, this is my first post of the month. Not something I'm proud of but I got a nasty stomach virus that knocked me out of commission for about a week. Now I'm back. Thanks to lots of rest and Chuck Norris.

The convention was fun. I believe there was a greater attendance than at the previous Planet Comicon but I could be wrong. Kenny Baker and David Finch had the longest autograph lines. Most of the usual local creators were there as well as a few new ones. I still think more fun will be had when I am one of those behind the desk and not in front of it. Hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later. I'm putting most of my eggs in the basket of The Ghoul (Watch for a name change soon) and will at least have the entire limited series scripted by the end of the year, hopefully even this summer. After that...we'll see, I have a couple of other properties ready for their own comic. Anyway, back to the con. I ended up finding a good deal on a hardcover graphic novel Marvel Monsters. I love me some monsters.

After posting my short story The Weeping Beast on this blog I realized, to my horror, that it was an unedited version of the story. Congratulations, you have been witness to the birthing process of one of my stories. It's messy, kinda yucky and painful but bubblegum cigars will be handed out anyway.

I love all my babies.

The Con

That's right. It's time for Planetcomicon in Kansas City again. This coming Saturday I'll be roaming the aisles of dealers and artists and writers looking for cool new things to buy, good deals, and contacts. I wish the convention was as big as Chicago or San Diego, where a ton can happen as far as meeting people and networking but you take what you can get.
I was originally going to use this opportunity to find an artist to pencil The Ghoul but since I think I've found that artist already, I'll just have fun...and maybe keep my eyes open for an artist that fits a different project. I know. One thing at a time. Hey, it seems most pros are writing more than one book anyway. True, they don't have a different day job to also deal with but why not shoot for the moon. The worst that can happen is it will blow up.

I just found out an old friend of mine from school days is writing and drawing his own graphic novel. It's called Chickenhare, Fire in the Hole. It comes out in stores everywhere April 9th. The first Chickenhare graphic novel was nominated for an Eisner Award so check it out. Click on the link below for pretty pictures.

http://www.chickenhare.blogspot.com/

Story and Snakes

Well, that's all of the story. The Weeping Beast is out there for the world to see, warts and all. The story could have used maybe one more revision but it was time to release it into the wild. There was another story about how a viking made it into space in the first place but I can't find it in my files. Lets just say that he died and on the way to Valhala he got frozen in a frost giant's cave after the destruction of Asgard and war between the gods. He was unfrozen by an alien and after killing him, he stole his space craft to follow the stars. I was going after a whole John Carter of Mars vibe.

On to snakes. The first picture of Snake Eyes in the GI-Joe movie has been released and it is awesome. Yo-Joe!
http://www.aintitcool.com/images2008/Snake_Eyes_large.jpg

The Weeping Beast 3

The roar of the beast cracked through the night once more, a sound of such guttural force that it had made teeth chatter and weakened the knees of giants.
Mar clenched his jaw. He shifted his grip on his sword.
“Come to me beast. Come to me that I may weep no more.” The woman cried out.
“Keep silent woman.” Mar told her.
He could hear the breathing of the beast all around him. The spirits of the dead called out to him to join them. The scent of a battle filled his nostrils and he breathed in deeply.
At that moment the beast emerged, crouched on a jagged rock amidst a break in the mist. The muscles all along the beast’s powerful body were like tightly woven chords of rope, ready to spring at any moment. Its size was easily more than twice that of Mar. Its fur like tall grass bristled in the wind. Its three golden eyes seemed to hover above the dark fur and the ferocious sharp-toothed grin of the beast.
Mar took a step backwards.
The woman screamed.
The beast sprung off the rock and charged at Mar.
Mar jumped behind a pillar just before the claws of the beast reached him. He lunged at the side of the beast with his sword but it moved too quickly and the blow only glanced its tail.
The beast pinned Mar against a pillar. Mar looked into the open maw, the jagged teeth as the beast roared. He threw his head back from the reek of death and blood.
Mar pulled his legs up and pushed with all his strength against the beast. With a groan the creature fell backwards and landed on its side.
A shower of rocks fell from above Mar as he too fell to the ground. He noticed several new cracks among the runes carved in the stone. The pillar was falling apart.
The beast had scrambled to its feet and the woman screamed as it turned its attention to her. It took a swipe at her with one of its claws. The chains clanged as she twisted to avoid it. It seemed death had lost its allure.
The woman was only a diversion. The beast crept past her and fixed its eyes on Mar.
Mar stood and brushed his hair away from his eyes. His hand came away with blood on it from a wound to his head. He grabbed his sword with both hands and held it near his side.
“Come, beast, and by Hiemidale’s sword I will cut you down.”
The beast answered with a roar and sprung at Mar. It pushed through the weakened stone pillar and sent rocks and dust flying everywhere. But Mar did not move nor falter in his stance.
The beast did not stop.
Mar waited until he could smell the beast’s foul breath and then he struck. He swung the sword with both hands. The beast let out a sharp cry of pain then dropped to the ground.
The blade had cut a deep path in the beast’s neck. It was not going anywhere soon.
Mar stepped over to the beast and grabbed the hilt of his sword. He staggered some as he lifted the blade over his head and swung down at the neck of the beast with all the strength he had left.
There was a sudden sound from the beast’s mouth like the wail of a thousand dying men. The clang of metal on bone. Then there was nothing.
The beast’s head lay severed from its body. Mar looked at the dark blood all around and expected to fall dead himself. He leaned against a pillar for support.
“The beast bleeds like you do.”
In the battle he had forgotten about the woman. She stood still chained to the pillar marking the grave of her beloved but a smile skimmed across her face.
“Tonight my beloved will fly into the arms of Othir and rest in the Eternals.” She said.
Mar knew he should be ashamed of his bloody appearance in front of such a woman. He cut the chains from her with his sword.
It had been a long year since the sweet taste of a woman had brushed his lips.
Mar grabbed her with one arm and pulled her close. He breathed in her smell of exotic spices.
The woman did not struggle.
“I thank you.” She said.
“Thank whatever gods you worship woman.” Mar said.
He brought his face down to her and kissed those precious lips under the red moons of Venusia as the spirits of the dead floated to the sky like a thousand petals from a thousand flowers caught in the wind.

The Weeping Beast 2

“I am Mar.” He said, in a way that seemed to encompass everything there is to know about him.
She observed his long hair and broad shoulders, his sharp features, and the long naked sword held as if it were an extension of his strong arm.
“I have not seen blue eyes like yours.”
Mar had no reply.
Her eyes shot up to his lips.
“How are you able to breathe without a mask?” She asked.
“I do not know. I do not know the name of this place nor the inhabitants, or how I breathe your cursed air and understand your words. Your cries led me here.”
The woman took a careful step back and pressed herself closely to the towering pillar she wept at earlier.
“Than something else may have heard my tears as well.”
Mar turned his head slowly to look around him. The growing mist, bloody from the strange moonlight, made visibility limited.
“I see nothing.” Mar said.
“You are a fool stranger that may be dead before sunrise, as I hope to be.”
Mar grinned.
“Death came for me once. It was cold.”
In the distance there was a low roar.
The woman gazed out across the mist.
“It is the reason for my tears.” She said, “These pillars mark the dead and the cursed. Beneath this one lays my beloved. This night I plan to join him in the afterlife.”
Mar looked up and down her shimmering body.
“You hold no weapon.” He said.
“You will not stop me.”
Her eyes erupted defiance.
The roar returned, much closer this time.
“The beast will kill me and my spirit will join my beloved’s.”
“What is this beast?” Mar asked.
“The beast that guards the dead. It keeps the souls here under a curse that as long as the beast lives none will be free to travel to Rhakamon, the Eternals.”
Mar took a few careful steps into the mist that surrounded them.
“By the Allfather’s beard this mist is thick enough to hide a long ship.” He said.
The woman scurried closer to the pillar that marked her beloved’s grave and wrapped her arms around it. Her slender hands worked hard at some task hidden from view. There was a sharp clanging sound.
When Mar flashed his eyes back to her he saw the bracelet and a chain. The woman had chained herself to the pillar as some kind of sacrifice to the beast.
The woman was stubborn. She was also strange and beautiful, something worth fighting for.

The Weeping Beast 1

It was a place for the dead.
He didn’t belong there, not yet, though the wind whispered through the wild reeds in his mind and spoke of a great rest and his lips tasted of honey.
His hand brushed against one of the large columns as he passed. The stone was cold. At the next column he lingered and traced the strange markings carved along its surface.
The markings were not the only strange thing he had encountered in this land.
A cry suddenly echoed among the columns. He knew the dead did not cry yet unsheathed his broad sword, as instinct demanded him.
The cry continued. He followed the sound through row after row of the towering columns until he at last found the source.
A creature knelt at the base of one of the stone columns. The being’s form was enough like a human to call her a woman. The scales of her skin shimmered in the dull red haze of the moonlight. Her hair was woven in chords that were long and black. When she turned her head she uncovered a slim face with wide eyes that shone like dark jewels and a mask that covered her nose and mouth. A thin flap of skin started under her chin and ran down to her chest.
She gazed up at him with glistening eyes.
“Be gone strange spirit.” She said, “You cannot take me.”
“Do I appear a spirit to you?”
The woman coughed behind her mask.
“Be gone.” She said as she leapt and swung her arms out at the man. Her hands stopped abruptly against his very solid torso.
The man grabbed her arm in defense.
The start of a scream slipped through her mask but was hurriedly covered by her free hand. Her eyes darted about wildly in fear.
“I mean no harm.” The man told her.
He let go of her arm but kept his sword close to his side.
Those dark eyes of the woman looked at him with a new shine. Her hand gently slipped away from her mask.
“You are a stranger in Venusia.” She said.

A brief interruption

Still working on the script for issue 2 of The Ghoul. Things are moving along well.

I am toying with posting a short story that I wrote a couple of years ago. I would post it as a serial, maybe a section every week. There are bound to be errors that I don't catch but it will at least give an idea of my writing style.

Right now I'm listening to The Black Crowes. I'm reading Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra. I recently watched Justice League:New Frontier.

There's gold in them there hills!

I may have finally found an artist to draw The Ghoul. He's a golden one too. I think his style, among other things, will suit The Ghoul well. More information will be forthcoming. Promise.

I had a nice weekend with my brother and his wife in town. It had been a while since I had seen my brother and it was nice to have him around again. They came to see the new baby of course, I was just a side attraction, but it was fun anyway.

In writing news; I have started scripting issue 2 of The Ghoul.

Did anyone else see the new Indiana Jones movie trailer? All I have to say is...I am totally there on opening night! Talk about golden.

Where in the world?

Carlos Meglia.

Of all the artists that I miss in the comic book world, he is probably the one I miss the most. You may know him from the Star Wars series or Monster World or Superman. He may not have caught everyone's fancy but man did he catch mine. His style was more cartoony but certainly stylized cartoony. I think he has done some comics in France. Anyway, he probably came to my mind since I am still searching for an artist to draw The Ghoul. I would kill to have Mr. Meglia draw for me. Kill!

So...who is the artist that you miss the most from the comic book scene? Besides Mr. Meglia, I also miss Art Adams (I know he's doing covers for Marvel now but I'm talking a monthly book), Larry Stroman, the guy that drew Leave it to Chance, Walter Simonson and Travis Charest.

Now if only they would come out with a hardcover of Monster World.

A man can dream I guess.

Where is the love?

I am not one of the finalists for the Shadowline super-heroine contest. Bummer.

But on the bright side, I have created a cool and unique super-heroine that is just waiting to have her own series. I will continue to fine tune her origins and first series possibilities while my fingers fly fiercly along the keyboard writing the continuing saga of The Ghoul. You thought he was out of the picture. Thought he was gone for good. Ha! The Ghoul laughs in your genral direction. Then skulks away. He's an expert skulker.

The hunt is still on for an artist. The call has been made.
As always, updates will be forthcoming.

Next

Finished my 150 word synopsis for the Create a Super-heroine Contest. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be to squeeze a three issue limited series plot into 150 words. Now I just have to wait until Feb 4 to find out if I am selected to be one of the semi-finalists. After reading some descriptions of what the judges have received so far, I think mine at least has originality going for it.

I would mention the name of my super-heroine but it is against the rules...or will be. When the contest gets to the voting stage, I can't tell you which one is mine. You can bet that I will put the link up on this blog. You can vote for the one that you like the best and hopefully that will be mine.

I'm on to writing the first five pages of the script. That is the second part of the contest. I'm just going to imagine I already won. Whatever you do, don't break my fragile delusion of grandeur. Tread carefully.

Been a long time

Lest anyone think that my last post was some sort of epitaph...I have returned.
Things should finally be getting back to somewhat normal here. So...what have I been up to (besides dealing with the new bundle of joy that is my daughter)?

Still no word from One Nexus Studios regarding my series proposal for The Ghoul. At this point I am writing them off as a rejection. There is a new contest at www.newsarama.com where you can send in a short paragraph for a series proposal that involves a newly created super-heroine. No, that's not anything the DEA needs to worry about. Shadowline, a comic book company under Image, is seeking the web for a new super-heroine for their line of comic books. I have an idea that is still germinating but which hopes to congeal within the next week. The deadline for the first stage of the contest is the end of January, so the rest of you should get cracking. Well, go on!

I then plan on picking up the YA novel where I left off and running with it. I also will try and shop The Ghoul comic book proposal around to some artists and see if I can't get one to bite. Artists are odd beasts (I should know) and it takes just the right bait to reel them in. I'll keep you updated on how things proceed.