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2/28/05 ~ Kaufman, Oscar-winner
click here for a Windows Media clip (2 MB) of Charlie Kaufman's Oscar acceptance speech.
 Uhm...thanks to the Academy...[looks up at monitor and sees his time limit dwindling]...29 seconds...27 seconds...uhm...that's really intimidating...uhm...I...uh...I'll try to look somewhere else [turns head to his right]. Uhm...there's so many people...uhm...worked so creatively on this movie and so...I, I feel like this award is for all of them...and I most especially want to thank Kate Winslet...and Jim Carrey...and director Michel Gondry....and uhm...producers Anthony Bregman and Steve Golin...and...uhm...[looks into monitor again]...I'm s'posed to wrap up now and...uhm...[looks to his right]. No, I don't want to take my time...I want to get off the stage...uhm...so thank you. "Hi" to my daughter, Anna.
Monday must be a day for pet peeves. After reading Melissa's list-- I will offer my own. Sorry for stealing your blog idea, funny and true. :)
-not using a turn signal (ditto with Melissa) -the phrase "last but not least" -use of the word "artsy" to critize something -when people get openly angry about standing in a line -when people only want "the gist" (we watch several hours of TV each week, but we cannot listen to five minutes of someone else's story) -when a DVD menu spoils something in the movie itself -when people suggest superhero ideas whenever I tell them I write comics (i.e. "you should do a story about a plummer with powers, you could call it... Plummer-Man") -when people say "Uh-oh, I better watch my grammar around you" whenever I tell them I teach English
Thank you Scott and Britta for lunch yesterday. It was delicious. I had a great time hanging with both of you. Too kind.
Also, thank you for letting me borrow your Firefly DVD (sorry Shanna, Scott beat you to it!). Melissa and I have been enjoying the series. We just finished the fourth episode "Shindig". 1 - 2 - 3 Joss Whedon can do no wrong.
My copy of Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (signed by Bendis) did not make its reserve. Alas. So I'm relisting it. This time with... NO RESERVE PRICE! Have I lost my mind? Maybe so.
CLICK HERE
Mark your calendars for May 7th. To coincide with Free Comic Day, Hero Realm, PvP, and Zeus Comics are hosting the first ever Comic And Pop-Culture Expo (or "Cape").
Right now, attending guests include-- Robert Kirkman, Lea Hernadez, Scott Kurtz, Ben and Marlena Hall, Jessie Garza, Scott Hinze, and me! There are some other comic book professionals who might be there. I can't say who yet, but I - am - excited. Also, don't forget, only nine days until Staple, Saturday March 5th. (click here for the flier)
Cartoonist Scott Kurtz posted an interesting critique about the recent Dallas Comic Con. The convention was held at the Richardson Civic Center, packed to capacity-- most to see film stars Sean Astin, Tom Jane, and Patricia Arquette. Typically, the media guests gain more attention than the comic book guests (Steve Niles and Raven Gregory, among others). The hope is that one market would benefit, and not eclipse, the other. However, the issue Kurtz brings up has been echoed by others. At what point does the "comic book" convention become a "pop culture" convention, or as Kurtz suggested a "media-con" or "photo-op con".
Kurtz posted these comments on the Dallas Comic Con forums, which were then taken down. However, Hero Realm posted Kurtz' critique on their own forum. It's also being discussed on the Fanboy Radio forum. www.herorealm.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=16019All the major conventions are placing more and more emphasis on the film industry. 100,000 people attended the San Diego Con. Does this have a direct effect on comic book sales? If 100,000 people attend a comic book convention, why do only the best-selling titles solicite those type of numbers? To be fair, comic book conventions have always featured a mix of pop culture, sci-fi, and gaming industries. Was the Dallas Comic Con overwhelmed by the turnout? Was it simply a matter of poor planning or (worst case scenario) brutal neglect towards those comic book professionals and retailers? For the record, I like the Dallas Comic Con. We have a strong, supportive local comic book community. We're fortunate to live in a city with such events organized on a regular basis. But this subject should not be so easily dismissed... has the film industry co-opted the comic book industry? 
New website from my good friend and the creator of Dead@17
JOSH HOWARD DOT NETMarlena Hall designed it, and everything looks great. All these talented people everwhere; you almost make me want to work harder. :) "Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power, Not wanting to be girls, they don't want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women's strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman."For some reason, right now, I'd really like to write for Wonder Woman. More than any other super hero character. Who knows where these urges coming from? I wouldn't even consider myself a "fan" of the Amazonian warrior. I just believe she'd be a fascinating character to explore, and reinvent. Mr. Dan Didio? Are you out there?
As Melissa mentioned in her blog, we went bowling yesterday. Good times. Melissa won, two games to one. However, on the game I won, I got my highest score thus far-- 142. Not great by any other standards than my own. We went to Forum Bowl in Grand Prairie, which we like. Best value for $2.50 a game.
Any local friends interested in bowling? We'd like to get something going. Melissa rocks the pins.  
I've put my copy of Ultimate Spider-Man #1, signed by Bendis, up for auction. All part of an effort to reduce the size of my collection. **click here**
Shocking, but I prefer reading comics over collecting them. And while I enjoy doing both, part of me would rather have a nice run of Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four instead of 2,000+ comics which I've read once and then tucked away to gather dust.
Matt Leong suggested this new site, and it's pretty cool. The design and layout look great. The concept is solid too-- to network and showcase comic book talent.
COMIC FOUNDRY DOT COMSites like this largely depend on community participation. With all the features Comic Foundry offers (for free), it should become a popular site. If interested, it's always best to get involved in the early stages-- to help set the tone.
Melissa and I have been searching local television news and the internet to find more details on what happened in front of our house this morning. So far nothing, but I'll update this blog if we discover anything else.
Maybe I should start at the beginning. I was in the bedroom when I heard tires screeching. Being that we live at the bottom of a hill with no traffic signal at our intersection of Ravenwood and Park Row, this isn't the first time I've heard this noise. "Another wreck." Then I heard the crash. So, out of curiousity, I look out the window. Huh. You don't see this everyday. There's a white car, with the back end of it underneath a school bus. The white car is being dragged backwards by the bus. At the bottom of the hill, the bus stops and the car has come out from under. Immediately, almost at the same time of the wreck, police sirens sound. Melissa and I go outside to see what's happening. Our next door neighbors also step outside. It's a little difficult to describe the sequence of events, because it pretty much happened all at the same time. There is a naked little girl (10 year old? Younger?) standing in front of the wrecked car. She is holding a jacket in front of her. Two police officers are approaching the wrecked car with their guns drawn. They have their guns aimed at a guy on the ground. The girl runs to the police officers. The guy on the ground is promptly handcuffed and put in the back of the police car. The kids in the school bus are all trying to get a glimpse of what's going on. Within minutes, an ambulance, a firetruck, and six police cars show up at the scene of the incident. Melissa and I think it may have been some sort of kidnapping or abduction that led to a police chase. **UPDATE (as 10:41 AM)** Melissa called. She saw a report on the news. The camera crews have flocked to our little intersection. Apparently, we weren't too far off on our assumptions. A 24 year old man kidnapped a 9 year old girl on her way to school in Grand Prairie. The chase began on Carrier Parkway and ended in front of our house. The man is being charged with aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, and felony evading arrest. **UPDATE (as 11:01 AM)** On MSNBC-- Police Investigate Possible Sexual Assault Of Girl Melissa called again to tell me she was interviewed by Channel 5, and may end up on the news.
Because you asked nicely, here it is. The original version of the Karma Incorporated teaser.
www.antiherocomics.com/media/karmainc_teaser.mov Flash animation guru Marlena Hall is working on an actual trailer for Karma Incorporated, which should be available in May to coincide with pre-orders for issue one. The band Happy Bullets was kind enough to give us permission to use their song Kerosene Heart (mp3). How cool is that? Their new CD "The Vice & Virtue Ministry" will be available March 29th from Undeniable Records.
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The official announcement for my project with Viper Comics is not until mid to late March. Pre-orders will be in May. The book is debuting at San Diego Comic Con in July. However, Jessie Garza in an interview with Simply JD gave another detail on the project-- the name. Now, I can stop calling it the "currently unannounced project".
We have tentatively scheduled to release 3 new books in July 2005....We'll be releasing Imaginary Friends created by Jason M. Burns/ art by Dustin Evans, Karma Incorporated created by David Hopkins / Art by Tom Kurzanski / Colors by Marlena Hall, and we're in talks to possibly release a new Josh Howard creator owned project. In the fall fans can expect to see at Wizard World Chicago the debut of a spin off series for Dead@17 called "The Protecorate", and it will feature writer Alex Hamby with art by Benjamin Hall. In addition, we have a few other books we still can't release information on...Karma Incorporated. It has a name. And a few months ago, I dropped this little teaser of Tom's art on the book.  See? All these little details are slowly coming together. In March, be expecting some cool stuff... Viper's official announcement, a micro-site on their website, a forum, Karma Incorporated on Antihero Comics (with pin-ups, sketches, cover previews, fun bios, and character details), and a limited edition glossy print available for purchase.
Yesterday, I took a half-day at school. I left at noon to attend a teacher's workshop on ways to teach the writing portion of our state exit-level test. These workshops can be boring, but I always enjoy whenever we practice some of the writing exercises. Little writing games remniscient of the numerous creative writing classes I took in college.
In one exercise, you draw an slip of paper from a baggy. The paper has a word or phrase on it. You use the word or phrase to complete the statement, "I never thought that I'd become a (fill in the blank)" and then you have five minutes to write on the prompt. Here what I came up with. I never thought that I'd become a seat on a bus. In fact, I never thought anything interesting would ever happen to me. Everyday was like the other. I rode the #5 busline to and from work five days a week. At my job, I counted beans, inspecting them for freshness, color, and durability. Duirng my lunch break, I'd steal a few limabeans, saltine crackers, and a packet of mustard. For eighteen years, riding the bus, counting beans, and my boring lima-cracker sandwich with mustard. One day, while in the bus, I couldn't get up from my seat. I missed my stop! People started sitting on me. I tried to yell "Stop it. There are beans waiting for me that must be counted." No sound came out. No one heard. I was bolted to the floor with a 60 years old lady sitting on my lap. Maybe my boss would look for me? Maybe Shelley from accounting would wonder why I hadn't picked up my paycheck? Nope. I'm a seat on a bus now. While I can't explain it in scientific terms, it's true. I'd like to say, this new career is really taking me places, but in actuality I'm just going around in circles.
* Took the "what age do you act?" quiz. I'm 32. Also took the "what year do you belong in?" quiz. Apparently, I belong in 1972. Melissa also took the quizzes. She acts 29, and belongs in the '60s.
* Brock, Ben, and I are going to attempt the 24 hour comic book day at Lone Star Comics on April 23rd. * Listening to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. * Reading "Eleanor Rigby" by Douglas Coupland and "McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, No. 13" anthology edited by Chris Ware, introduction by Ira Glass * Want to read "Beneath the Underdog". Charlie Mingus's memoir. * Melissa got a new mouse for our computer. It's lovely. The old one was a pain to work with. * Having fun with design.
This Saturday, Kennedy and I will be attending the Dallas Comic Con at the Richardson Civic Center. I'll be there with Viper Comics signing copies of Dead@17: Rough Cut, Volume 2. I've heard a lot of stores sold out quickly. So if you're at the convention, make sure to pick up a copy.
In addition to Rough Cut, Viper just released the Daisy Kutter TPB (!!!), and I believe Dead@17: Revolution #3, which keeps getting better and better, hits stores this Wednesday. I've said it before-- Viper is doing everything right. I'm so happy to associated with such talented people. If you live in the DFW area, come say "hi"! The Dallas Comic Con has brought some cool movie guests. Last time, Michael Keaton was there. Now we have Sean Austin, Thomas Jane, and the lovely Patricia Arquette. I will always remember Arquette as "Alabama" from True Romance. Such a crazy Bonnie-and-Clyde film.
This toy was made during a more innocent era. However, I find it disturbing on many different levels.
Ikon, Yukon, we All Con for... (Okay, that was dumb, but it's been stuck in my head. Sorry.)
I'll be there tonight from 4 PM to 8 PM selling my stuff. I'm sharing a booth with Scott, and guarding it while he goes to moderate various panels and helps to judge the Miss Star Wars Competition. Not sure what that is, but I'm almost certain it involves a gold bikini. All Con is a brand new event. The sponsors have worked hard to make this happen. I don't know what to expect, but it should be interesting. As the name implies, they're doing a multi-format fan convention, although it looks mostly like a sci-fi love fest. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And no, I'm not dressing up like a storm trooper.
Brent Schoonover has a new website you should check out. He's a nice guy and a talented artist. I'm dying to work with him on a project someday. There. I said it. Brent, I want you. It's unprofessional to plead like this. But hey, all is good fun.
www.brentschoonover.comSeriously, Brent's work is incredible. Great website too!  This past year, I had four different short stories published. It's been a year for anthologies. I've been fortunate to reach a larger audience. Today, the last of those anthologies hits the shelves-- Dead@17: Rough Cut, Volume Two.
I wrote "Fight to Live" in the first installment, and Josh Howard invited me back to contribute another story to the Dead@17 mythos. I've tried to find the stories that fans would most enjoy. So in volume one, I showed Nara's resurrection. In volume two, this story "The Sparrow" goes back to the very beginning-- Nara's mother running away with her infant daughter. How does Nara end up being adopted? What sacrifices are made to protect this child of promise? I really like the story. Guy LeMay's art is great, and perfectly fits the mood. We tried something different for this one. Absolutely no dialogue, only a woman singing the song, "His Eyes are on the Sparrow". Honestly, I'm a little excited, nervous (?) to see how people respond. I don't know if the reviewers will like it at all, but we'll see. In addition to Guy and myself, there is some amazing talent on this anthology-- Joe Breeden, Cal Slayton, Kazu Kibuishi, Greg Gatlin, Brent Schoonover, Alex Hamby, Benjamin Hall, Marlena Hall, Pat Bussey, Wes Molebash, and Brain Thompson. Well worth the price of admission. Here's a preview of page one
This book has to be one of my favorite truly "independent" titles. The first issue was amazing. We interviewed Mel Erwin and Christopher Herndon on the Fanboy Radio's November Indie Show (#194). Since then, she has revamped her website and is taking orders for the second issue of Doll Polls-- to be shipped February 16th.
This isn't the typical murder mystery. There's no grizzled detective haunted by his past and determined to crack the case against all odds. There's no cryptic letters published in the paper, no great statements, and no manifestos to spell out the rhyme and reason in overly simplistic and cliched metaphors for easy reader comprehension. There's just a working class community where everyone knows everyone else but nobody knows what the hell is going on.To order, send $2.50 (plus $1.00 shipping) to melerwin80(at)melerwin DOT com via Paypal, OR email her to let her know if you'd rather send a check or money order.
I am a golden god. Uh-oh. It takes only a minute to complete the quiz. Let us know how you scored.
Wackiness: 54/100
This is getting a little ridiculous. How many times can I redesign the Antihero Hero website? Alas, I can't help it. And technically, this isn't a complete redesign. The content and layout are the same. I simply changed the graphics and the color scheme. I'll probably make a few changes here and there before I settle down with this look for awhile.
So who is the lovely lady standing on the left side? It's Marsha Elliot, the protagonist for my currently unannounced series. I felt like she needed a place of honor, plus I was getting tired of looking at my own face.
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