Uncanny Tidings

I've moved!

2009-09-08T18:05:00.000-05:00

I have a new website at the following address:
www.dispatchx.wordpress.com

Please join me there.

Don't even go there!

2009-06-05T20:31:00.003-05:00

It's been a while, I know.

Anyway...I have finished the children's book I have been working on and will start sending it out to publishers next week. Here's hoping I have better luck with this then with the novel I wrote a few years back. I will be writing the first draft of a follow-up children's book soon. My daughter's going to love them I'm sure (like she has a choice).

My idea for a couple of panels a week web comic has not been able to draw an artist (DRAW. Ha! I kill me!) yet. We'll see where that goes.

I am really wanting to continue the YA novel that I abandoned about a year ago and hope to start it up again very soon. It takes a big time commitment for a novel and having an almost 2 year old daughter running around tends to eat up time. The characters simply will not get there hooks out of me. I take that to be a good sign that I'm on to something special.

I have recently contributed a phrase to a Twilight shirt design for a friend. No, I'm not a fan. I always like a good challenge.

That's it for now.

The day after

2009-03-30T13:02:00.003-05:00

What a crazy weekend. I attended the KC Planet Comicon over the weekend and had a good time. I got a Spider-man sketch from Skottie Young and talked with Jason Aaron briefly about the woes of finding an artist. Jason gave me something to think about so look for new writing news.

I also scored a cool print from Tommy Castillo of King Kong putting the smack down on some giant snakes.

As I alluded to on Twitter, I have a new job. Same as the old job. In other words, I got my old job back. There was much rejoicing.

I am changing Monster Mondays from every Monday to Mondays following the week I obtain a new CD. Hey folks, I'm not made of money. If someone wants to send me a CD to review then I will be happy to do so. I should have a new review up next Monday.

Monster Monday: Madeleine Peyroux- Bare Bones

2009-03-24T20:25:00.001-05:00

You can’t help but gently sway to the opening plunk-plunk guitar tempo of [Instead] as if in a late night foggy jazz club. By the time you hear the smooth siren call it is too late for you.

Of course, you don’t realize it yet as you lean against the rail of your front porch and count the fireflies lighting up. Krista knocks some dishes together as she cleans up the kitchen. Even the sound of the water running through the faucet you find tranquil. You chalk it up to something in your [Bare Bones.]

Something crashes in the kitchen. It’s not just dishes.

You enter the house and turn the corner to the kitchen.

“Krista?”

Krista can’t answer due to the meat cleaver stuck in the back of her head. Blood covers the window in front of the sink, the counter and the pea green tiled floor. You scream.

Your eyes dart around the room but you see no one there. You can do nothing but whimper and [float down this river of tears.] The darkness in the next room breathes menace.
You go to call the police and find the phone dead. You remember that your mobile phone is lying on your bed upstairs.

You pull the largest knife you have from the kitchen drawer and step around the corner to the main hallway. The long scar along your arm brings back shivery memories.

[“You can’t do me the way you did before”]

The walk to the stairs is lit but that is little comfort. Beyond the stairs is the darkness and the scent of [Love and Treachery.] It reminds you of strawberries.

Out of the darkness leaps a swinging blade.

You scramble up the stairs by twos. The knife wielder oozes from beyond the stairs and follows you. He wears a red hood with crude slits for eyes. The light dances off the blades in a belt across his shoulder.

A tune drifts across the breeze from the open window at the top of the stairs; the neighbor humming [To Love You All Over Again.]

There must be something you can do. You tell yourself [“I Must be Saved”] as some kind of mantra. You leave the lights out upstairs and crouch in the second room’s doorway and hold your breathe.

The hood tentatively enters the darkness and searches the first room. A lamp crashes against the wall and to the ground.

You run around the corner and leap into the room with The Hood, swinging your knife violently. You feel it push into something hard and hear a muffled moan. The Hood throws your head into a dresser and you see stars. You don’t dare stop swinging your arm. You swing up and hit something else. The Hood lets go of you and falls to the ground.

After you get your bearings, you stumble to the light switch and flip it on. The Hood is in the middle of the floor with your knife sticking in his chin. He must be dead.

You can see in a mirror that you have a nasty gash in your head and a trail of blood running down your neck. Consider it a scratch since you’re still alive.

Life sure is [Somethin’ Grand.]

Or at least, it will be tomorrow.

T Extravaganza

2009-03-20T09:39:00.003-05:00

A couple of links to some cool t-shirt sites. The first one offers a different t-shirt design every day by artists on the web.
http://www.teefury.com/

The second has cool t-shirts with fake advertisements related to horror and sci-fi movies. I personally can't wait for the Antonio Bay shirt to come back in stock.
http://www.lastexittonowhere.com/

Started Twittering. We'll see how it goes.

Monster Monday: Chris Cornell- Scream

2009-03-16T21:05:00.002-05:00

Chris Cornell- Scream

It opens with fan fair. A synth voice begins the tale as if told around some kind of funky futuristic glow pit. A tale of a creature born of metal and strings with a beat-box heart.

It’s clear from the first track that the old sound is no more a [Part of Me.] This monster is not the same old B-monster we are familiar with from the days of Soundgarden through Audioslave that we know how to handle. Didn’t we love that monster?

The beat shifts a tad and you realize that we are alone. Where did it go? It was there just a minute ago, before we blinked, red eyes pulsing to the music and hips swaying as if charmed like a snake by a techno flute from hell. [I wish we could rewind. Time.] You didn’t like the look of its machete hand. I can’t say I was thrilled about either.

I thought I heard a whisper about [Sweet Revenge.] The tiniest breathe on the back of my neck. Wait. Wasn’t this thing a machine?

“Run.” I shout.

You can’t move. Paralyzed with fear. Don’t you know you’ve got to [Get up?]

[You need a backbone to roll with the world.] You shoot out of the room into a dark hallway and keep pumping your legs as fast as you can. Your shoes hit the floor in double time behind me.

We both crash through a door and get tangled in a mess of wires and panels. Where are we?

[Ground Zero.] This is where it all must have gone wrong. It looks like some kind of techno birthing chamber. The wires are hanging from the ceiling as if the sky was gutted. Sparks fly intermittently. Blood spatters cover the glass partitions. Mutilated bodies lay sprawled on the floor like discarded toys. This is not good.

You’re world suddenly shifts as [Never Far Away] pours out from the room speakers, somehow still working. This is a groove that you can get behind. No more fear. Nothing but sweet romance. [Whenever I come. Wherever I go. No, you’re never far away, far away.]

My mouth drops open as you start dancing. I thought you only danced like that because it gets a laugh but now I can tell you’re in the zone. You really shouldn’t leave the house.

I guess it’s just me now. I grab an ax from the wall next to the fire extinguisher and search the darkness for the monster. It’ll never [Take me Alive.]

I wish I was [Long Gone.] Hey, this tune sounds familiar. Maybe this thing is what we’re used to dealing with after all. That voice of honey and rock salt can’t be mistaken. There’s only one way to be sure.

A spinning blade erupts from the wall next to me. I [Scream] like a little girl. At least I’m not dancing like a spastic belly dancer.

A barrage of sound pelts me that includes [Enemy], [Other Side of Town] and [Climbing up the Walls.] I swing the ax but can’t get a bead on the inhuman monster. It’s on me too fast. I feel a cut in my arm and another in my leg. It burns.

Just as those red eyes fill my vision, I fall from a push. You’ve come out of your stupor and grabbed a loose bunch of wires from the ceiling with a particularly nasty looking spark issuing from them. I watch as you shove them into the slit that thing has for a mouth and its eyes bug out. Arms, legs, and blades fly everywhere.

The monster falls.

All that remains of life in the monster escapes as the smoke from over-heated circuits drift up like slowly scattering snakes. You pulled through for me again.

“What a ride though, eh?” You say as we make our way through various dark rooms to the bright outside.

No doubt. But…

[Watch Out.]

Whatever happend to the Transylvania Twist?

2009-03-11T15:09:00.002-05:00

Don't know, but I am really digging this Transylvania TV thing. One of the puppeteers is going to be at the Planetcomicon coming up in a couple of weeks in KC so maybe I can score some groovy swag. Include both a yeti and a vampire in your show and call me hooked. Making them puppets is icing.

Transylvania Television: Ep01 "Interview with Some Vampire" from Michael Heagle on Vimeo.

Monster Monday: U2- No Line on the Horizon

2009-03-09T15:33:00.005-05:00

Let me preface this entry. So that I will at least update my blog every week, I have come up with Monster Mondays. Every Monday I will post a music review in my own unique way. Hopefully you'll find it amusing. Feel free to let me know in comments.

U2- No Line on the Horizon

Thump thump.

Its steady beating heart drives the opening title. The first line breaks through the hum. The groove grabs you by the neck and hurls you through the fourth story window. The back of your head smacks the pavement, shattered glass cascades all around you yet, for some reason, you can’t help but smile as a large shadow eclipses your vision then is gone. There was something familiar about the shape of that shadow.

By the second track, the beat has stepped it up a notch. You get up and stumble towards the convenience store down the block. Your girlfriend lays in the parking lot with a slash the size of Cleveland from the same beast that hit you.”Only love can leave such a mark.” Is she still breathing? You don’t get an answer before you hear the whine of the guitar and watch the beast take flight. It looks so peaceful in the sky, majestic even.

You can imagine taking flight yourself and almost feel the wind rush past with every firm beat from the beast’s wings as they surround you. You hear the chorus of “Moment of Surrender” and fall to your knees. How did you let things get so out of control?

Your cell phone rings and you screen the call, “Unknown Caller.” The world spins out around you and it seems you hear voices that give you short commands as if you were some kind of computer to be programmed. Maybe it’s the beast getting into your head. The sky is now empty.

You carry your girlfriend to your apartment and ease her onto the faded green couch. She’s breathing but just barely. The beast must be stopped. During “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” you feel your resolve grow stronger and search for a weapon, any weapon. You grab a metal baseball bat you’ve had since grade school and make for the door. You take a last look at your girlfriend. “Baby, baby, baby, I know I’m not alone.”

The beast strikes again at the local bowling alley. You meet your best friend, Charlie, and drive there in his Jeep with “Get on Your Boots” blaring through the speakers. He has a loaded .45. You notice that neither of you have on sexy boots. You’re both wearing sneakers.

There is a huge hole in the side of the bowling alley that you don’t remember being there before. Bodies litter the parking lot and cars are overturned. Hopefully no one is dead. The warbling guitar during “Stand Up Comedy” draws you and Charlie into the building as a sultry siren. Charlie has the presence of mind to fire the .45 at the first sight of the beast’s wild mane. It roars as static enters its groove. You leap over scattered bowling balls to get within its shadow. Not yet swinging range…for you.

The fuzziness of “Fez: Being Born” enters through one ear and out the other as you are swept off your feet by a blow from the beast’s massive claws.

You land on your side. The thought flashes through your mind that there is a beast within each of us. “If only a heart could be as white as snow.” Your baseball bat clangs against the ground and rolls out of reach.

A rip in your leg causes you to tremble. A tear across your chest makes it hard to “Breathe.”

Charlie keeps firing into the beast until there is no answer. You can hear the beast’s heart beat, so strong and steady in the beginning, now only a low drumming. It can’t last for much longer. You find that it gives you little satisfaction. Maybe you’ll wake up and all of this will have been a dream. In its last breath, the beast whispers “Choose your enemies carefully ‘cos they will define you. They’re not there in the beginning but when your story ends. Gonna last with you longer than your friend.”

Charlie helps you to your feet and you stagger. How are you going to tell your girlfriend that your best friend meted out her revenge?

Well, you’ve got the scars, don’t you? Yeah.

Go home and rock ‘til there’s no line on the horizon, baby.

Um...remember me?

2009-03-02T15:03:00.003-06:00

Sorry about the long drought between posts. I am in the middle of re-imagining my blog so look for some new things soon.

On the writing front, I have submitted some writing samples to Superhuman Works in the hopes of being chosen to write their flagship title Night Jak. They are a small start-up company in New York but it would be a chance to have my writing published.

The big comic convention in Kansas City will be here March 28-29. I am prepping for a day or two of networking, artist hunting and comic purchasing. This year the big media draw is Erin Gray from the original Buck Rogers and Peter Mayhew from Star Wars. I still kick myself for not getting Adam West's autograph when he was here several years ago. On the comic book side; Scottie Young, Michael Golden and my friend Chris Grine will be there, among others.

That's it for now.

Must love monsters

2009-01-20T15:42:00.003-06:00

As I composed an ad that hopefully attracts an artist for Count Obsideo, I almost used the above phrase. It just popped into my head as a good summation of the kind of stories I like to write. I ended up not using the phrase in my ad but I thought it would make a good blog post title.

What is it that fascinates me about monsters. Beats me. I just know that I like them. Place a monster in any movie and I can guarantee you I will be interested. Add a monster to your new advertisement and I just may buy whatever your selling. Say the word "monster" and I smile.

Perhaps it's because the monster is so often misunderstood and mysterious. Both of which I have certainly been called before. Perhaps it's because so many monsters are born of someone else's mistakes or cruelty. After all, one can hardly become a vampire, werewolf or giant mutant lizard thing by themselves. It may be because the monster is what makes the hero. If the monster itself can get to be the hero then all the more awesome.

The Incredible Hulk is both a monster and a hero. Godzilla is both the destructor of Tokyo and, so many times, its savior. King Kong is both the beast that rampaged New York and the guardian of Ms. Darrow.

I am looking forward to the remake of The Wolfman that is supposed to find its way to movie theaters this year. The next DVD collection I plan on buying is The Giant Red Baron which is a Japanese show where a giant red and silver robot gets to fight all manners of giant monsters (hopefully amidst cardboard looking cities and such). I have never seen the show but the sound and look of it intrigues me. Besides, they had me with "giant monsters." I'm still waiting for a good current US television show that features a cool monster. I may have to create it myself someday.

Bring on the monsters!

Tops in movies

2009-01-11T14:11:00.003-06:00

As promised, here are my top five favorite movies for the year 2008. I know what I said in my last post but this one is going to be short and sweet since I've already written reviews for most of these movies on this blog.

5- Quantum of Solace
4- Valkyrie
3- Iron Man
2- Hellboy 2
1- The Dark Knight

As a side note; I caught an old movie on TV the other night that I remembered fondly. Amazingly, it held up well today and had me laughing and smiling most of the way through. The name of the movie is Zorro, The Gay Blade. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something light and fun or just need to scratch that George Hamilton itch.

A dilema

2009-01-05T12:15:00.003-06:00

What to post on this blog?

It is something that I have been thinking about for some time now and the start of a new year is as good a time as any to begin a change. The blogs that I frequent are written by professionals in some capacity as authors, editors, agents, or movie reviewers. I am not yet a professional author and my current lack of a job at all does not provide me with a wealth of things to discuss that I feel others will be even remotely interested in. I feel that even my movie and music reviews up to this point have been less than lackluster.

What am I to do about this? I'm not entirely certain yet. I do know that I will continue to post updates about what I am working on and when I finish a project. I will attempt to write more comprehensively about my writing process (such as it is) and write movie, music and book reviews with more of a professional tone and greater breadth. The added benefit will hopefully be that this blog will be more entertaining and a greater example of my writing skills. I wouldn't count out a serial work of fiction at some point either (probably sooner rather than later).

I would like to thank immensely anyone out there reading this blog. I will leave you with these immortal words: It can only get better.

PS: I have posted the first five scripted pages of Count Obsideo issue two on Deviant Art (the link is to the right). Still looking for an artist.

PSS: Still looking for a day job as well.

Tops in music

2009-01-01T13:36:00.003-06:00

Thought I forgot about it didn't you? Well, here are my picks for the top five albums of the year 2008:

5- Another Country/ Tift Merritt: Her debut album was great and this follow-up album didn't disappoint. For fans of "kinda country" in the vein of Emmylou Harris. Some really pretty songs on this one.

4- Easy Tiger/ Ryan Adams: Not to be confused with Bryan Adams. This is another country tinged album with excellently crafted songs with melodies that will rattle around in your head for days.

3- Perfect Symmetry/ Keane: A little different sound for this band but one that works well and reminds me a bit of Duran Duran in the eighties. The amazing thing is that the band sounds better with each and every album. At this rate, I can't wait for the next one.

2- Warpaint/The Black Crowes: The Robinson brothers are back together and making great soul shaking southern fried rock and roll again. Here's to many more years ahead.

1- All the Love You Need/ Big Head Todd and the Monsters: The only band outside of The Black Crowes that consistently makes albums that I love. I honestly don't know why this blues tinged rock band is not more popular than they are. I recommend this album to everyone. While your at it, pick up all their other albums as well.

That's it. Tops in movies will be next.

Tops of the year

2008-12-23T14:52:00.006-06:00

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!

2008-11-24T15:42:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-18T18:59:00.003-06:00

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

2008-09-23T18:09:00.003-05:00

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

2008-08-21T20:12:00.004-05:00

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!

2008-06-15T20:12:00.004-05:00

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

2008-06-01T14:40:00.005-05:00

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

2008-05-15T19:30:00.004-05:00

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...

2008-04-22T18:25:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-04-11T20:43:00.005-05:00

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

2008-03-30T14:14:00.004-05:00

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

2008-03-20T20:03:00.004-05:00

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

2008-03-18T18:08:00.001-05:00

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

2008-03-15T17:18:00.001-05:00

“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

2008-03-11T20:34:00.004-05:00

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

2008-03-04T20:06:00.004-06:00

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!

2008-02-19T17:07:00.004-06:00

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?

2008-02-09T19:15:00.001-06:00

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?

2008-02-04T20:03:00.000-06:00

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.

2008-01-29T17:51:00.000-06:00

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

2008-01-14T19:13:00.001-06:00

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.

Sabriel Rose Jimison

2007-12-06T11:45:00.000-06:00

Born 12/02/2007

Amazing

2007-11-16T22:05:00.000-06:00

Picked up the new CD by Seal titled System. It's very cool. I think it is one of his best albums, very dance groovy and almost Bowieish (Is that even a word? It is now!). When I listen to the song Loaded, I can easily hear David Bowie sing the same lines with almost the same phrasing. No wonder one of the songs has a Thin White Duke Remix version. Loaded, Amazing and Wedding Day are the stand-out tracks but every song is great.
Thank you Mr. Seal.

In writing news...everything has kind of been put on hold until the baby arrives. Sometime within the next two weeks baby Sabriel will be born.
Simply amazing!

What's with all the bees?

2007-11-06T19:38:00.000-06:00

I just don't get them. Are they supposed to be funny with those stripes? They remind me of school buses. Not funny.

I kid, of course. I saw Bee Movie over the weekend and loved it. The audience I was with seemed to agree. They clapped at the climax of the movie. It seems that Jerry Seinfeld can do no wrong. I heard that he is now going back on the road to work the stand-up circuit. I would love to see him. The only thing holding me back is that most comics' acts are filled with cursing live. I don't see how foul language makes a joke funnier, but I guess I'm old fashioned. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Seinfeld show even though it was crass at times, for the most part it was bringing the funny in a way that even my mom would laugh at. There were no f-bombs on TV. Maybe with the movie being out Seinfeld will keep his act clean. Maybe his act is pretty clean anyway. If any of you out there have seen his act, drop me a line about it in the Comments.

Movies that bring the funny (clean funny): Anything with Abbott and Costello, A Night at the Opera, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, The Princess and the Pirate, The Court Jester, and To Be or Not To Be...to name a few.

They did the monster mash.

2007-11-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

Halloween has come and gone. For those of you keeping score...I was Edward Scissorhands this year, carved a pumpkin at home to look like The Ghoul, designed and helped create a haunted house with creaky stairs graveyard and giant spider that small Lego trick-or-treaters occupied pumpkin for a contest at work, didn't win (we were robbed I tell you), and watched Sleepy Hollow in the dark.

My wife and I gathered all the Halloween decorations and stuffed them back in their box until next year. Oh, well. In a few weeks the Christmas stuff will come out and that will be fun, right?I really do enjoy Christmas...but do you have to start playing Christmas music nonstop on the radio all ready? What is this world coming to when I can hear The Christmas Song on the day after Halloween?! AAAGGHHH!

Um...I'm OK, really. Still no word from One Nexus Studios on a Pass or a Fail for The Ghoul. I am going to continue where I left off on my all ages novel The Fabric of Night, and put The Ghoul on the back burner. Don't worry. If I know the Ghoul, and I should considering I created him, he'll be back before you know it.

I'm going to shoot for 100 finished pages for the novel before the new year. It's a small goal but considering any week now my wife will have the baby, I think it's a realistic goal.

I leave you with this echo: I was working in the lab late last night...

A New America

2007-10-11T16:49:00.000-05:00

Don't get your dander in a fluff. I mean a new Captain America.

Marvel introduced the new Alex Ross design for Captain America. We're told that it will not be Steve Rodgers since he was assassinated a few months ago. There is some speculation that it will be Bucky (AKA The Winter Soldier) that takes up the mantle.

I have mixed feelings about the design. I like that he still has the same cowl with the wing-tips an all, but I think the stars on his shoulders are not needed and the shiny costume takes getting used to. There is some backlash already about the gun he carries but he is and has always been a soldier first and foremost. Just because he has a gun doesn't mean he's going to wield it like the Punisher or something. I hope.

Also not too sure about all the black. I would prefer the rest of his costume to be navy, with red boots. The old Cap wouldn't need a gun, his shield would take care of offense and defense. Maybe this guy is not as good with a shield.

Click the link below to see for yourself.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12094

The skinny on that crazy scene

2007-10-03T21:03:00.000-05:00

The Mo-Kan convention was not impressive. It was small. I did end up talking with the creators of the Revere comic. They seem to be amiable enough chaps and I ended up purchasing the new Revere hardback collection. It's an interesting story idea that seems to move just a little too fast. A follow-up is coming out soon though so maybe we'll see some more character moments. The book is produced by the same company that produced the Mouse Guard book (highly recommended). You can check out Mouse Guard at http://www.mouseguard.net/. More information about Revere can be found at http://www.grantbond.com/.

Purchased the Jungle Book DVD on Tuesday and gave it a spin. The restoration job is fabulous. It is a still as good as I remembered and the music is the bomb. A must buy.

Another "must buy" is the new Bruce Springsteen album. The Boss delivers again.

Birth of The Ghoul

2007-09-27T20:47:00.000-05:00

I finished writing the entire first issue of The Ghoul. It feels good. I never wrote a comic book before and I now know it's something I can do. I feel that my drawing background helps immensely but guess that can't be confirmed until I find an artist to fulfill my vision.

I still haven't heard from One Nexus Studios yet, but maybe soon. If they do accept my proposal it will be interesting to see what kind of artist they pair me with.

The Mo-Kan Comics Conspiracy is happening this weekend and I plan to attend on Saturday. I'm bringing some copies of my writing just in case I get lucky and find an editor or artist that's interested but really only expect to find some good deals on graphic novels and such. If anyone out there plans to attend, look for me, I'm the one in the New York hat and Incredible Hulk T-shirt.

This is Halloween

2007-09-21T21:22:00.000-05:00

I know Halloween is in October but why not start early. Its Halloween in my head most of the year round anyway.

My wife and I dragged out all the Halloween decorations and placed them in the proper places. We watched the original Frankenstein to start the season with a jolt. Some other favorites Halloween movies I try to watch this time of year are The Wolf-Man, Dracula, Young Frankenstein, Sleepy Hollow, The Fearless Vampire Hunters, and Wolf.

I also brought out the coffee table edition of Edgar Allen Poe stories and poems. There's nothing like reading Poe aloud to set the proper atmosphere inviting ghosts and ghouls to drop by for a spell. Ha. A spell. I kill me sometimes.

So what are some of your favorite movies to watch or stories to read during the Halloween season?

I am Iron Man

2007-09-12T20:54:00.000-05:00

I'm sure most of you know by now about the teaser trailer for Iron Man the movie. I won't provide a link to it here. Google it if you haven't seen it. The footage in the teaser looks good, really good. I just hope they don't demonize Tony Stark all together, yeah, we know he's kind of a jerk sometimes, but that's not his core. At his core he's a hero.

I dislike the direction the comics have taken with the character recently, and only hope that a change is coming. I enjoyed immensely the way Iron Man is treated in the new Enter: The Mandarin comic series written by Joe Casey and beautifully drawn by Eric Canete. It's almost a throwback tale in more ways than one; we do get to see the origin and first meeting of the Mandarin and Iron Man, but also the return of a Tony Stark that isn't a creep.

While we're on the subject of comics. I picked up the new Amazing Spider-man with the One More Day storyline. Don't waste your money on it. I thought it would be a return to form but it was just another JMS debacle. Will someone please get him away from Spider-man. His Thor work is great so far, Spider-man, not so much.

The waiting is the hardest part

2007-09-05T20:48:00.001-05:00

I sent my submission for The Ghoul (a comic book for those not paying attention) to One Nexus Studios the other day. Now all I have to do is wait. I loathe waiting.

In the meantime I have decided to work full time to finish writing the first issue of The Ghoul, then I will return to also writing my novel as well. Sometimes it seems like there is not enough hours in a day. Sometime I envy those of you out there that have no projects waiting to be made or no stories trying to burst forth from your head like from a broken levee. Sometimes I want pie.

Observant readers of this blog may note the new picture. Consider this a logo of sorts. I thought about having it colored but I think black and white fits with the look of the blog, so it remains so. I drew up this logo for a business/writers card and thought I would add it here as well. I am rather fond of it right now. If my mood changes, I may remove it...or not.

Star light, star bright

2007-08-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I saw Stardust. I'm a big fan of Mr. Gaiman so I was very interested in seeing how the movie would do. I'm pleased to say that it is a wonderful type of magic. The story and some of the characters differ from the book but the heart of the tale is still there. The ending was changed but I couldn't say for certain it was for the worst or better, just equally satisfying as the book.

I hope more people find this little movie and give it a chance. So far, it looks as if the audience is having a terrible time finding Stardust. Ah well, there's always DVD.

If you haven't noticed already, I have a link on the right to Neil Gaiman's website and journal. You are always going to find something interesting or insightful or panda-ish there. I would recommend his books to any lover of fantastic fiction.

Perhaps if you blow out your candle and wish real hard, clap twice and spit into the wind, the Good Omens movie will happen.

Maybe if you catch a falling star.

Bronson

2007-08-21T20:39:00.001-05:00

My wife and I spent the weekend in Branson, MO. My wife had never been there before. Much walking and shopping was done.

One of my favorite gags from The Simpsons is when someone is trying to go to Branson, MO. They accidentally get off the bus at Bronson, MO. Everyone in the town looks like Charles Bronson. I've called the place Bronson ever since.

Speaking of Mr. Bronson, when are they going to release Red Sun on DVD? I caught it on television once but haven't seen it since. It's a western where Bronson plays a cowboy and Toshiro Mifune plays a samurai. Great stuff. Oh well, guess I'll have to make do with Once Upon a Time in The West for my Bronson fix.

Casting call

2007-08-13T19:18:00.001-05:00

I just found out the Thor movie is going full steam ahead with a director: Matthew Vaughn. I have yet to see Stardust (much to my chagrin) but this seems like a step in the right direction. Now if they can just find the perfect casting. I am not enthused about the two names I have heard so far to play Thor: Triple H and Tyler Mane.

Without further suspense, I give you my pick for The Mighty Thor. Vladimir Kulich.
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0474520/HH/0474520/iid_960717.jpg.html?hint=group

Stranger Savior

2007-08-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

The following is a portion of my proposal for a comic book series starring The Ghoul. The name of the first story arc is Stranger Savior:

He thought he was dead. Thought he was a ghost. Turns out he was just invisible. That was his first power.

VINCENT PRATT was a B-movie actor. He suffered a terrible accident. He got zapped by a prop during one of his scenes. The prop was actually an alien artifact. The zap knocked Vincent out cold and turned him invisible. When he awoke, he though he was a ghost. No one could see or hear him. After time he learned he was still alive. He also learned he had other powers but he never knew for certain when they would appear.

Sometimes he has the strength of a giant. Sometimes it seems he is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. He never knows when these two powers will be active. He understands that these extra abilities are random to allow him to demonstrate faith. He has decided that God allowed him to live through the accident and that his powers are gifts from God that should be used for good. Besides, next time he dies, he wants to be certain he will go to a better place than Kansas.

He calls himself THE GHOUL He hires himself out, for free, to those in need all across the globe. He also keeps watch over his own city, Shadows Bay, KS.

The West

2007-08-06T19:35:00.000-05:00

Just finished reading To Tame A Land by Louis L'Amour the other day. If you have any love for the Old West then you have to read L'amour. He has a way of bringing the time alive in his stories in an unforgiving landscape, the dreams of a good man just trying to get by or the reluctance of a gunfighter to leave one more man dead by his gun. He writes like he's an invisible chronicler of the events or has lived them himself. Something tells me it's closer to the truth to say the later.

On an unrelated note. I'm still trying to figure out a way to post some of the proposal for The Ghoul or pages of my novel in progress. I probably won't post any of the novel until the first draft is finished, but The Ghoul is a different matter. Stay tuned.

The second way to kill a werewolf

2007-07-27T21:32:00.000-05:00

Monster Squad. I really shouldn't have to say anything else. For those poor unfortunate souls that are not familiar with the movie, I shed a tear. I never thought I would see the day where I could own The Monster Squad on DVD. That day has come, on my birthday even.

It was with some trepidation that I slipped the DVD in the player, pushed play and sat back to view the movie once more. It had been a very long time since I had watched the movie, and I was afraid it would not live up to my wonderful remembrance. I'm glad to report that I needn't have worried. The film is still a great time for the monster lover and kid in me. With hindsight I can now see the great impact this one movie has had on me, my writing in particular and my preference for all things monster related. I have an unfinished movie script (problems with the third act) that I worked on just a couple of years ago and I can see how much of an homage it is to The Monster Squad.

Some people may tell you the effects are somewhat dated, the dialog in parts is silly and the story doesn't make much sense. I say that Dracula drives a black hearse with a silver skull hood ornament, Mummy's in my closet and Wolfman can survive being blown to bits by dynamite.

So, am I in the club or what?

Sometimes the bear eats you

2007-07-18T16:11:00.000-05:00

I need to write. I haven't been able to write for almost two weeks now due to various reasons. The end of this week doesn't provide much hope. I think I am going through withdrawal.

I have made slight updates to my journal regarding the Fabric of Night, but that is not enough to whet my appetite. I know one thing for certain.

When Monday rolls around I WILL write.

Shoot me if I don't.

To live...and breathe...and fight...again

2007-07-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

The Mighty Thor returns! Thor is back in his own comic book starting over with #1. Thor has been MIA for a while because of the whole dying and Ragnarok (End of All Things) happenings. Now Thor is back, but he's not alone. Dr. Blake is back as well. You see, Dr. Blake was banished to the void by an Odinspell. When Thor finds himself in the void he meets Dr. Blake and they have an understanding. And since it is for mortals to say whether the gods exist or not, Thor has returned.

Overall it was a good first issue. Thor's new duds are not far removed from his original ones and it's nice to see the whole Dr. Blake thing returning for a spell. The art by Olivier Coipel is perfect and his Thor looks very Norse. J. Michael Straczynski is writing and he did a bang up job as well. I feel that Mr. S. has a hit or miss quality about him and wasn't fond of his treatment of Spider-man, big fan of Babylon 5 though.

Action Comics #851 came out as well which continues the Richard Donner plotted Superman story. I am really digging it but it seems like the last part of this story came out at least a month ago. What's the deal? I may just have to wait for the inevitable hardback collection.
Oh yeah, for those wondering, it's a girl.

More than meets the eye

2007-07-05T20:46:00.000-05:00

Not a very original title, I know. Hope everyone had a happy fourth of July. Mine was good. I spent time with in laws, had good barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs, and watched fireworks from just a few blocks away from where I live. America the beautiful, est. 1776, and liberty and justice for all!

On Tuesday I caught the new Transformers movie at the cinemaplex. I know a lot of critics have been down on the movie but I truly don't understand the geek backlash. A similar thing happened to the TMNT movie earlier this year (which I also enjoyed immensely). Sure, the autobots and decepticons have been tweaked a little and a few of the jokes were downright stupid, but I thought it's heart was in the right place. Most of the movie was genuinely funny. The robots were all awesome. The action was bayrific (terrific) and what you would expect from the master of mayhem known as Michael Bay. Would I appreciate a more solemn approach to the Transformers mythos? Probably, but the movie is fun, exciting, and funny. I can't wait to own the DVD. Oh, and Optimus Prime rules!

A rat by any other name

2007-07-01T20:44:00.001-05:00

Saw Ratatouille yesterday. One of the best movies so far this year. Of course, Pixar can do no wrong so that was expected. This is certainly more adult then the other Pixar flicks but there are cornucopias of things that the kids will find amusing as well. Most of the characters this time are human and there really isn't a kid type personality but for Remy, the rat, but he's more of a teenager. Most kids won't understand the fascination with food but the parallels are there for other things. The need to create; paint, sing, write. Perseverance is key. Just ask the little chef.
The music is great as well. Not sure who does the score but it's Mancini like.
Ah, Paris.

Best laid plans

2007-06-19T20:42:00.000-05:00

The good news is that I seem to have hit my stride writing The Fabric of Night. I love it when this happens. It seems your just slapping paint on a canvas until you reach that magical point where the story sprawls itself out before you and says "Here I am. Let's go for a ride."

The bad news is that while I'm riding this wave, The Ghoul lays by the wayside. Never fear, The Ghoul can never be counted out. He's been dead once. I think he can handle a brief sabbatical. I just fear for those foolish enough to run into him unfettered as it were. Ah well, better them than me.

In unrelated news, I have not yet summoned the will power to see the new Fantastic Four movie. In time the siren call of the Silver Surfer will lure me in, but probably not before the movie is available to rent. I know that you usually can't trust the critics, but...

Soup of the day

2007-06-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

So, the new Fantastic Four movie will be here soon. I have mixed feelings about it. The trailers look really good but the misshapen shadow of the first movie looms over everything. The Fantastic Four have always been a favorite for me. I can only hope that the new movie will get everything right; the family dynamic, the sense of wonder, the magnificent evil of Dr. Doom (he's the ruler of his own country for crying out loud, [and could we have a couple of Doom Bots please?]) Here's hoping.

Danny Elfman will be scoring the Hellboy 2 soundtrack. I liked the first one by Beltrami. I usually love a new Danny Elfman score but it seems he hasn't really knocked one out of the park since Sleepy Hollow. If anything can coax a wonderful score from him I would think it would be Hellboy, with his cast of characters and mix of the urban and the fantastic.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32938

Fans of Dennis Miller rejoice. He has his own radio show. It's a mix of politics and comedy that often has me fighting not to laugh out loud while I'm at work, supposedly working. If nothing else, listening to him will expand your vocabulary exponentially (look it up).
http://www.dennismillerradio.com/

The Stegosaurus dinosaur; not as extinct as we thought.
http://www.forteantimes.com/strangedays/cryptozoology/357/a_stegosaur_in_cambodia.html

50

2007-06-01T19:21:00.000-05:00

I have reached the 50 page mark of The Fabric of Night.

Dax and the scarecrow are stowaways on the sky train. Don't tell them, but the vultures are about to hit and the cowboy called Lightn'n may end up being Dax's only help in this strange world.

That's all you'll get out of me for now.

At world's end

2007-05-26T20:41:00.000-05:00

Saw the new Pirates of the Carribean movie. Wow. What a fantastic end to a wonderful series of films. Or is it the end? Hope not. Probably not. Not with Captain Jack Sparrow still sailing the Calypso sea with a bottle of rum and a compass to point him to his greatest desire. I will say no more lest I spoil it for the lone reader of this blog. There is one reader isn't there? Anyone?
I leave you with my favorite exchange of dialog from the movie, after gazing up at the gigantic carcass of the Kraken:

"The world's gotten smaller Jack." Barbosa said.
"The world hasn't gotten smaller. It's just there's less in it." Replied Captain Jack Sparrow.

Hard Boiled Yid

2007-05-21T17:01:00.000-05:00

I recently started reading the new Michael Chabon book "The Yiddish Policemen's Union". I like it so far. It's set in an alternate history where the Jews were relocated to Alaska after the war. The tone and style of the writting is very Chandleresque. Speaking of hard boiled crime, I would also recommend Mickey Spillaine and John D. MacDonald.
Still working on the comic and novel. Maybe I will post a sample soon.

It's a comic book world after all

2007-05-07T17:25:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I attended the Planet Comicon in Kansas City. It's a decent sized comic book convention but when you've been to Wizard World in Chicago it's kind of a let down. I am glad that Kansas City puts on a con anyway, just wish some muscle like Wizard would get behind it. We're in the middle of the country for crying out loud. Wizard World should move to Kansas City, 'nuf said.

Jim Lee was the biggest name at the con. His line never seemed to dwindle. The guy that created Mouseguard was there (His name escapes me right now, Google it) but he didn't have any comics to sell. I was waiting until the convention to buy his comics and have him sign them. I guess there may have been a good reason for him to be without, but if it was me, I would have a stack of my own comic book in front of me, not to mention a bunch of freebies and a prop or something, but that's just me. I ended up finding a good deal on a Superman hardcover GN called Infinite City with art by Carlos Meglia. If I see anything drawn by Mr. Meglia I grab it. I'm still waiting for the collected Monster World.

After the con I was kind of depressed. I should be on the other side of the tables and not just attending. Ah, well. Maybe all will change with The Ghoul.

I also managed to see Spider-Man 3. It was good but not great. The first two were much better. Here's hoping that Raimi takes a break, as much as I love what he has done with the series, and some new blood enters. I probably won't buy it on DVD.

Finished the proposal for The Ghoul and started writing the first issue.

Searchin'

2007-04-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

OK. So, I told you that I'm writing a comic-book. Eventually I'm going to need an artist to draw my words. People who know me, know that I can draw and was once a pretty dedicated artist. I have since been reduced to drawing quick sketches only. I haven't seriously drawn anything of merit in about three years. Why? It's a long story but the short of it is...I started to develop stories for myself to draw and ended up enjoying the writing more than the drawing, plus I couldn't draw very exciting or convincing backgrounds (buildings and such). Perspective killed me. I came really close though. I did the tryout circuit at a major convention year after year and heard from nearly everyone that they liked my stuff, but it wasn't right for them. In the end I also decided that I was too old to teach myself perspective and background drawing and still have a successful life as an artist. How many newbie comic-book artists are over 30 years old?

I say all of that to say that I wish now that I could draw my own comic book. I have come up with a few character sketches and such but I know I can't jump right back into being the comic book artist again. Besides, I know there are people out there better than me. I want the best.

After cruising the web for prospects, I found few that seem a good fit for me. I wonder if some of the better ones will even think about drawing for no fee up front. Hopefully the script will slay them, and give them no choice but to beg to draw for me. Here's hoping.

If you know any comic book artists that will work for free and can draw monsters, aliens, people, buildings, cars, furniture, trees, and giant ravenous space creatures. Please let me know.

Of Beginnings

2007-04-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

So, I just started working on two new projects; one is an all ages novel and the other is a comic book. Actually, I think they will both be for all ages. That's my intention anyway. I say "all ages" because YA is too limiting. I wish I didn't have to label them at all. Treasure Island, Tarzan, and Tom Sawyer are not labeled YA, their "classics". Oh well, gives me something to shoot for I guess.
The novel is called The Fabric of Night and the comic is called The Ghoul.
By the way, I'm a new father as well. The baby is due in December.
The Ghoul says "Hi."

Hello

2007-04-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

The Ghoul.