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I received a ballot for the Eisner Awards. Oh the power! I have a vote to determine the outcome.
For anyone else with a ballot, make sure to WRITE IN: Oddly Normal by Otis Frampton (Viper) for the category of Best Title for a Younger Audience. I realize a write-in would hardly have a chance, but Otis deserves the nomination. Ideally, the Eisners are to recognize "excellence for publications and creators in your field". Quality, not popularity. Oddly Normal is an amazing story that was sadly overlooked. Don't get me wrong. This category has some great comics, but I wish it were even more competitive. There simply aren't enough younger audience books available.
Don't mess with the babysitter. She'll put on the hurt.
Emily Edison is available to pre-order on Amazon for the low price of $9.97. Once they get the books in stock, they will ship it. You can still order from your local comic book store, simply ask if they can do a "special order". Emily should be in stores on June 28th.
And don't forget: The Man from Krypton. I'll have some copies available at Dallas Comic Con. Check out the Fanboy Radio podcast! Scott Hinze and I hosted episode #299 with Brian K. Vaughan. I really enjoyed it. You can download and listen to the podcast.
If you haven't been reading the Viper webcomics, you should. Both You'll Have That and the Horrible Pirates have hit their stride. Wes and Pat are incredible cartoonists. Each with their own unique style and approach.
Updates: I'm the busiest I've ever been with my writing. I have several projects in various stages of completion. Each of the artists I'm working with are amazing. Emily Edison, artist Brock Rizy - Antigone, artist Tom Kurzanski - Jack Ruby, artist Brian Kelly - The Omisoka Bridge, artist Greg Zadronzy - The Last Babysitter, artist Cal Slayton - Astronaut Dad, artist Brent Schoonover - Few Steps Closer (working title), artist Nelz - and a new essay for Smart Pop Books Obviously, Emily Edison will be out in June. Antigone, later this year. As far as the other projects? There's no telling. The script for Astronaut Dad is done. I wrote it three years ago, but I'm going back to do a re-write. Brent is busy with other stuff. Once he finishes, we'll get started. So it'll probably be at least another year. Brian Kelly is stranded in some tiny village in Ireland working as a tattoo artist. He's completed a few pages, and they look great. Script-wise, non-fiction is non-fun, but this Jack Ruby project has refused to die. Some things where meant to happen. The Omisoka Bridge has a new artist, Greg Zadronzy. He's sent me thumbnails of pages 1-12 and character sketches. We'll have a gorgeous preview available by July. I've wanted to work with Cal Slayton for a long time. I can't think about The Last Babysitter without smiling. (Of course, any project that includes this book as research is going to be fun.) And most recently, Nelz. Last week, I started work on the script. The ideas and some of the characters have been floating in my head for awhile. Nelz has given the story new life. Honestly, I'm a little worried. It's so much darker than anything I've ever done. "Bleak" would be the best word -- 1: offering little or no hope, 2: providing no shelter or sustenance. It'll be a challenge. I'm anxious to see how it develops. I wish I could say more, but it'd be bad mojo. Hopefully, I haven't jinxed anything. For everyone who reads my blog, I really appreciate your support. This past year has been huge. Who knows where it'll go from here? Another update: It's my birthday on Monday. I'll be 29.
A new cartoon short from Jim Lujan: "You Go Girl". It's the touching story of a girl (Ramona) who goes to a nightclub, acts a fool, and gets the boot. The end.
There is a cameo of Melissa and me, plus a shop with a familiar name. 
FedEx delivered my copies of The Man from Krypton.
 I'll have this book available for sale next weekend at the Dallas Comic Con -- in addition to my usual swag and some Emily Edison posters. Look at the website. There's too many people to list them all. If you can, try to make it out. Some of my favorite people will be there doing sketches: Brock Rizy, Cal Slayton, and Josh Howard. (Ask Cal to draw something from The Last Babysitter!)
Horrorwood #1 and Black Coat #1 (both from Ape Entertainment) are in stores this week. You should definately them check out.
A review for Horrorwood #1 (click here): To say the very least I loved it. Brent and Brandon have done exactly what independent comics should do; they took the genre and expanded upon it. They pushed the envelope in a slightly different direction and laid out a plotline that is unique within this confined and sometimes claustrophobic comic realm.
I posted Melissa's photos from the reception. (click here and scroll down) For those in the Dallas area, the art exhibit will be at the Magnolia until June 7th.
Finished reading Little Star by Andi Watson. Really good book. Andi Watson, an incredible cartoonist, also writes some of the best dialogue. These words stuck with me:
When people ask "What is it like to be a dad" I usually shrug and tell them it's good. It's a meaningless answer but it gets me out of trying to describe what it really means to me. I'm not a better person because I'm a father. I'm not suddenly full of wisdom and inner contentment. In fact I'm left pondering more unanswered questions than ever. If anything fatherhood has made me more of a person. I'm happier than I've ever been, and sadder. I'm more aware of the moment and more anxious for the future. I'm angrier and more content. I'm more patient and more frustrated, much more mentally stimulated and a lot more bored. It's a very long shopping list of contradictory emotions often experienced simulatneously. I'm a prince and stepmother, king and stepsister, horsey and fairy godmother. I'm a slob and chauffeur, teacher and pupil, nurse and sergeant major. Dispenser of hugs, sympathy, ultimatums, and moral guidance. The manners police and the hygienist. I'm a chemist and cash dispenser. Dancer and tickler. Monster. Bum wiper and bather. Grump and storyteller. Tyrant, pushover, builder and cleaning lady. Husband and son. Dad.
Interview by Kevin Noel Olson at Silver Bullet Comics. I talk about Emily Edison and offer my thoughts on juvenile fiction. (click here)
The Dallas Observer made mention of Emily Edison and our art exhibit at the Magnolia Theatre. Hey Andrea! (click here)
Go to my forum and check out the new photos from Staple (click here) and a cute photo of Kennedy (click here).
In February, I presented an essay to the Paideia College Society at Dallas Baptist University. My paper was on Craig Thompson and his contribution as an artist. The essay was okay; no earth-shattering revelations to people already familiar with his work. More of an introduction for the uninitiated.
   I re-read all his books, looked over every interview I could find, and then collected my own thoughts into a thirty minute presentation with a Q&A afterwards. For anyone interested, here it is: the essay (pdf) -and- the powerpoint (zip)
Just got a phone call from Melissa. Try-outs were tonight, and she's made it! Melissa's an official rollergirl with the Dallas Derby Devils. For right now, she'll be on the development team. Her first bout won't be until next season. (The '06 season is already in full swing.) Melissa's worked hard for several months to get in the league, so this is all very exciting. Now, we just need to find her a corporate sponsor, and we're set.
Expect more information and updates on Melissa's adventures as a rollergirl.
Mayor Laura Miller has declared May 6th official Free Comic Book Day for Dallas. Click below to read the proclamation.
From Ronee Garcia Bourgeois' weekly column:
Back in December, I first told you about an alleged sexual assault that occurred at a comic convention and expressed my own personal feelings on the subject as I tend to do. Since then I have learned to be a bit more politically correct and all that crap but I do not apologize for bringing the topic up, for saying what I think or for being a passionate person for women's rights.On May 6th, Friends of Lulu will start a special fund to provide legal representation for women dealing with issues of sexual harrassment and assault within the comic book industry. Such extreme criminal behavior must be punished, and we have an obligation to offer resources to those who have been the victim. This industry should be a safer place where talented and creative people can explore their art without concern of harrassment. We have gained an unfortunate reputation for being a "boy's club". All the while, some of our most skilled professionals are women -- Christine Norrie, Jessica Abel, Marjane Satrapi, Chynna Clugston-Major, Hope Larson, Colleen Coover, Raina Telgemeier, Gail Simone, Christina Weir, Amy Kim Ganter, Renee French, Carla Speed McNeil, Colleen Doran, Tara McPherson, Trina Robbins, Louise Simonson, Vera Brosgol, Lynda Barry, Becky Cloonan, Ellen Lindner, Joana Carneiro, Erika Moen, Jen Wang, Black Olive, Lea Hernandez, Paige Braddock, Pia Guerra, Jill Thompson, Jen Van Meter. I hope more women pick up a pencil and paper to create quality comics, but it won't happen in a boy's club.
Went to the Magnolia on Saturday, saw Brick. Really amazing film -- view trailer.
I've never been a huge fan of noir. Too many stereotypes. The genre's been overplayed, becoming a parody of itself. The mournful saxophone, the monotonous voice overs, the same characters lurking in the shadows. In my opinion, Roman Polanski's Chinatown was the final chapter on this style of filmmaking. After which, the only good noir has been creative variations -- for instance, Bladerunner as sci-fi noir. Then along comes Brick. Even though Brick is set within a high school, with teenage characters, I have trouble calling it a "variation". While the film is playfully self-aware of the genre and archetypes, it is classic noir crime fiction. Cut from the same cloth as Chinatown, On The Waterfront, or Double Indemnity -- however, it injects new life and new potential into this American film style.
From Comicon dot com, The Pulse:
MEET EMILY EDISONMuch thanks to Jennifer Contino for featuring us on her site.
The Emily Edison forum is now available. Let your voice be heard.
http://www.vipercomics.com/messages/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=31
Such a lovely web page courtesy of Jim Resnowski. Make sure to check out the preview! http://www.vipercomics.com/features/emily_edison.asp
We also have our ISBN number 0-9777883-2-6, so you can pre-order on Amazon.
Comic Foundry has re-launched their website, now in a monthly magazine format. To celebrate, Comic Foundry and MoCCA are hosting a "night of networking". The details are posted below in the flier. If you live in the New York area, you should definately attend.
 Tim Leong interviewed Brock and myself about our collaboration and the upcoming Emily Edison graphic novel, as a special preview in the new CF. You can read it here. (Casting Light on Edison)
It's been awhile since I've posted anything. This last week I've been getting ready for this week -- my Emily Edison promotional push on the Internet (and it does feel like pushing). Brock and I have an interview with Comic Foundry going up on Monday, our exclusive preview with The Pulse on Thursday, and (hopefully) our site and forum on Viper Comics should be coming soon. I'm posting on the various message boards and touching base with a lot of the indie-friendly retailers I know via e-mail. After April 15th, I'll give it a rest (don't want to over sell it) until Dallas Comic Con and Free Comic Book Day.
Yesterday, Kennedy and I participated in the Comics Jam War. As you might imagine, we weren't doing it as part of the competition. Just took Kennedy to Lone Star, got some bristol board and crayons, and had fun. Later that evening, I came back; did some sloppy doodles for an hour, and turned it in so we could be "official". Our end product? The Little Green Bee-Bop Comic Shop Swing. Oh, and it's l-o-v-e-l-y. Speaking of lovely, the Valhalla Kittens. I don't know what to make of the band yet, but I have this song stuck in my head (click here). Kinda catchy. And on MySpace, Allison Weiss is a spiffy singer/songwriter, definite rock star in the making. She's the heir to Kay Hanley and Letters to Cleo. Fun and sentimental, cool.
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