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12/27/05 ~ Happy birthday Lizz!
Am I allowed to say that Christmas kinda sucked this year? Kennedy was sick, which made the entire event a struggle against common sense. Our daughter should be home in bed, but noooo, we're trying to get her to open presents. It got ugly. Needless to say, our better judgment won out and we took her home, missing my parent's Christmas dinner. Fortunately, my loving mother brought us some food, and we had a much nicer evening.
Come to think of it, Thanksgiving sucked too. What gives? Of course, the gifts were great, but as Charlie Brown taught me, Christmas is not about gifts and pink metal trees. It's true. However, I feel oddly compelled to tell you what I got anyways. From my parents, we got some money to buy a new bookshelf. My current one can't hold all the books, and so they are scattered throughout the office. It's a big mess. I'd like to get something like what Cal has (click here), but we'll have to see. I know Melisa would like to get a shelving unit that includes a desk, so we can fit a love seat/fold-out bed on the opposite wall. Make the office into a guest room for those wandering artists we like to take in. I'm sure we'll find something. From Melissa, I got the complete scripts for Freaks & Geeks and the Office (BBC). I love these books. I'd say I enjoy reading good scripts almost more than anything else. Lots of other stuff, but do you really want a play-by-play of every gift we received? Despite not feeling well, the gift-aspect-of-Christmas (and all the following ones) is about Kennedy, and she got some cool toys, which are scattered throughout the living room. It'll take a complete of days to figure out a place for everything. And most importantly, today is my sister's 21st birthday. Happy birthday Lizz! We're going to Dave & Buster's.
This past week I've been working on an essay for an upcoming Smart Pop Superman anthology. The essay will be good, once it's finished. I decided to take a short break, and post my "best of" for this past year. This year has been exciting. Kennedy is getting older, turning into a little person, which is amazing. Melissa has been working hard as co-manager at the Fast Forward online shop. Every year, our relationship grows stronger and more meaningful. She's my best friend, and I know I'm fortunate to have such a great family. 2005 also marked the year that my first comic book series was published. In the process, I've met some incredibly talented people. There's so much I want to do in 2006. We'll see where it all leads. (click here to read last year's best of)
Memorable events: * Douglas Coupland's two new books: Eleanor Rigby and Terry * Karma Incorporated Release Party, Gypsy Tea Room with Happy Bullets * Read Harry Potter, books 1-6 * After five years, Melissa switches hair stylists. * Kennedy creates strange new language * Fanboy Radio's WWTX Art Night with Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland * Art Conspiracy is a success. Favorite comic books in 2005: * Black Hole * The Rabbi's Cat * Scott Pilgrim vs. the World * The Walking Dead * Middle Man * Flight, Volume Two * Hellboy: The Island Favorite TV Shows in 2005: * Gilmore Girls * Lost * Arrested Development * My Name is Earl * The Office (US version... it's good!) * CSI, Tarantino season finale * It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia * Charlie and Lola Favorite movies I watched in 2005: * Batman Begins * Serenity * The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardobe * A Very Long Engagement * I Am David * The Weather Man * Howl's Moving Castle Favorite food for 2005: * Pineapple Chicken Curry from Bangkok City Favorite music for 2005: * Gorillaz, Demon Days * dEUS, Pocket Revolution * Mr. Bungle, California * Happy Bullets, Vice and Virtue Ministry * Arcade Fire, Funeral Now back to writing that essay.
Yes, it's back. The traditional "train wreck" version of O Holy Night for your Christmas enjoyment. So beautiful, so tragic. Thank goodness, I only post it once a year.
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Not really. I found this tombstone and thought rumors would be fun to spread. So please, visit Brock's livejournal site and post your condolences. He was taken from us too soon. Alas, and just before Christmas too.
 The Blast Corps gives you a 21 gun salute. Shine on, crazy biznatch.
It's all confirmed. Brock and I got a table for Staple, March 4, 2006 - Austin, Texas. Mark your calendar. This indie comic book expo is going to be insane (in a good way). Special guests include Tony Millionaire, and our buds Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland. Who's knows what else may be going on?
My grandfather is a Christmas tree farmer. I have many childhood memories of wandering through acres of Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, and Fraser Fir at the Pine Tree Barn, which my family owns and operates. While other kids in the '80s were spending their summer in front of the television watching reruns of Growing Pains, I had a million little imaginary adventures out on the tree farm. As you might guess, by shear force of nostaglia, I'm adament about having a real tree for Christmas. Granted, plastic ones are safer, prettier, and easier, but that's just not Christmas. "Safer, prettier, easier" is the mission statement to suburban hell. Real trees are a pain in the ass. I nearly cut off my thumb last night sawing the end to prop it in the stand... merry Christmas.
On our first Christmas as a married couple, Melissa and I got a real tree for the Fort Worth apartment. The apartment was so small, the tree was literally two feet from my side of the bed. I'd roll out in the morning, and get pine needles in my face. Horribly inconvient... merry Christmas. Melissa picked our tree this year, and it's beautiful. We decided to get a small one and put it on the kitchen table. With a 19 month Kennedy and a new dog, anything (tree or otherwise) not three feet off the ground will be destroyed, and still might... merry Christmas. 
Just got back from the Universal Collectibles Show. Through no fault of the organizers, this event was pretty dead. Not many people showed up, and few were looking to spend money. So basically, Jim, Ben, Marlena, the mighty PJ and I hung out at the booth for four hours, talking. The highlight was Ben recounting the story of him throwing hamburger grease on Marlena. I haven't laughed that hard in months (but I guess it's one of those you'd-have-to-be-there type things).
For a small convention, the organizer worked his ass off to get the event in local papers and spread the word. He also provided everyone with fajitas, which won me over. I'm a sucker for good food. Personally, I think the problem is that the Dallas/Fort Worth area is over con'd. We've got so many good conventions--it's difficult to draw fans to every single event. Not to mention, we have so many good comic book retailers in the area. A lot of the mechandise offered could just as easily be found at your local comic book store, without paying $2 to get in. Alas. While there, I started reading The Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar (Pantheon Books). It's really good. I highly recommend.
A debate about international economic policies and oil reserves breaks out between a rich woman and the guy behind the cash register
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I keep all my notes, outlines, random thoughts, and bits of dialogue in spiral notebooks. Before I even "finish" one notebook, I usually start another, so it's a lot of blank paper. In the past three years, I've probably gone through about twenty. They are scattered throughout the office. Last night, I was looking for one particular notebook where I had an outline for an essay I'm working on. I couldn't find it. I figured it was time to gather all my notebooks together and organize them. Or at least, put them all in the same desk drawer. I started looking through my old notebooks. It was cool to see what I was working on three years ago, ideas that never came together. There were at least three different outlines for the first issue of Karma Incorporated. Most interesting were the extensive notes I took on Buffy, as a model for how to tell story arcs.
This weekend, I'll be a special guest along with Viper Comics and Severe Magazine at the Universal Collectibles Show II. It's Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Hurst (Precinct Line Road exit north off 183/Airport Freeway). Should be a fun event for anyone trying to find unique Christmas gifts -- comic books, trading cards, action figures, etc.
If you're able to, please come by and hang out. I'll bring candy canes.
A review of Karma Incorporated #3 from the ICR (click here to read).
All the responses to issue three have been fairly consistent. A lot of people have been surprised/shocked/put-off by the unexpected change in tone and the graphic nature of this story. That's cool. Honestly, it was the kind of response I was hoping for. I wanted to mess with people (in true Karma Incorporated fashion). They start issue one thinking it's a comedy, and the story changes on them. Some people loved it, some thought I messed up. But I'm convinced if anyone reads all three issues in one sitting, they'd see the tone was there from the very beginning. It wasn't an accident. In particular, with Marsha, why is she that way? Hopefully, you come to understand her and maybe even care for her. Tom has this amazing ability to create these vulnerable moments with the characters. As an artist, he made it work. I'm in awe of his talent. Tom doesn't just draw "emotions", he draws subtext. And I have no idea how he does it. I'm glad so many people like Karma Incorporated, and took a chance on the story. Thank you. To everyone else, I refer you to this website. Buy all three issues, and let me know what you think.
A nice review of Karma Incorporated #2 and #3 from Paul Dale Roberts, Jazma Online.
I love Karma Incorporated, you can hire someone from this organization to ruin someone's day, let's say they get some karma payback! A staff member wants some Karma payback on his boss Donald Williams and is willing to pay to ruin his boss's day and Karma Incorporated will make it look like an accident. Donald Williams aka Mr. Donny (that's what he has his employees call him) gets trapped in an elevator for 3 hours and then is smothered by cockroaches. Karma Incorporated tries to convince the police that they are a data solutions company, when the police try to shut down their business. The artwork is filled with bright colors and the artwork is done with sharpness, it's eye-candy to the reader. There is some intense drama as a big thug tries to rob a white collar worker and gets shot in the process.
It's sick and twisted and hosted by my friend Clay. But I'm winning, so who cares? Only a few more weeks, come on Bobby Fischer! (click here to see the results)
There are two David Hopkins in comics. One is a cartoonist who does Furry-themed webcomics. The other is me. No offense to the other DH, but I do not want people to think that the two of us are the same person. So thank you to whoever posted the Wiki article making the clarification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hopkins_%28writer%29
I want to thank Jim for getting my Marvel Masterworks Fantastic Four signed by Stan Lee, even personalized. I received the package yesterday. He also got comics signed for fellow ACTOR volunteers Bob and Travis. It was really cool. So thank you, crazy mofo.
Another slight re-design in my never-ending quest for the perfect website. And there was much rejoicing, the frames are gone. Obviously, there's still a few things that need to be fixed, but I'll get working on it. As always, let me know what you think.
There is a lot of good stuff out. Here's some people, books, and miscellany I enjoy. (Click on my links for a more complete list of favorites.)
Cal Slayton's blog ~ Amazing artist. He's posted some cool pin-ups recently. Fragile Prophet #1 (from Lost in the Dark Press) ~ I'm a fan of Stephen Buell's Video, and now this new series only continues to spotlight his talent. Flaming Carrot ~ Bob Burden's surreal comic super hero still has a special place in my heart. A little weird, but I like it. Temporary ~ From Damon Hurd and Rick Smith, probably one of the best indie books I've read in awhile. Marshmallowville ~ This site is fun. They've got a movie intro, a rap song, and a comic book. I want a Marshmallow Shooter for Christmas! Fast Forward Online ~ My wife is the co-manager for the online store. She's been rather busy lately, but doesn't the site look nice?
This weekend's Art Conspiracy was amazing. Melissa and I are so glad Sarah Jane invited us to participate. The first night, Friday, we went there to work on our stuff. Melissa had put together some photos she'd been working on all week, and made an abstract collage. Really beautiful. I had fun painting. I'm not great, but I do enjoy playing around and seeing what comes out. And turns out... Harry Potter. Yes, I painted Harry Potter. Wim did this cool stencil of Johnny Cash and used spray paint. Chris Shafer painted this funky Bandito that came together nicely. I love experiences like this, where a bunch of creative folk get together and work side by side. Just a positive environment.
Saturday night was the big event. The art went on sale. The bands played. The place was packed. Which speaking of, the Texas Theatre? That's an awesome building. Needs a lot of renovation... but so much local history, it's exciting to be there.  photo from Sarah Jane's blog (click for larger image) The Happy Bullets played first. Kennedy loved them, wide-eyed, open mouth in awe. They played some new songs for an upcoming album, which sounded great. The band keeps getting better. A lot of our friends were there, and love spending time with them. (Bethany, we'll be at your birthday party!) We had to leave early, due to 1.5 year old daughter and bedtime.
I decided to post the elusive trailer (click here). This little bit of iMovie hackery is what started the whole process. So strange.
Viper Comics has posted their pics from San Diego, Wizard World Chicago, and Wizard World Texas. All so lovely and funny captions too!
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