Marriage: Let the Truce Be Told

Fantastic news for my wife, Stephanie, and I today. We've been writing essays about our marriage in a sort of he said/she said style. We take a topic or particular instance and write a short essay. We've received some great feedback from the few people who have read some of them, and today we got the best feedback of all: An online magazine wants to publish one of our stories.

The story, Diary of a Football Fan—And His Wife, is about the night the Packers lost to the Giants in last year's NFC Championship. I wrote it the following morning. It was one of those rare instances when I sat down and wrote 500 words in about 15 minutes and I didn't need to change a word. I mentioned the essay to Stephanie and she did the same thing. What's even more rare is the fact that they blended together almost perfectly, creating this nice little cohesive essay with almost no effort.

For the most part, we're writing these little vignettes for fun, but we agree that we'd love to have a magazine or website to publish them on a monthly basis. And if we get some positive feedback, we're going to shop around the idea in a book proposal. Marriage: Let the Truce Be Told. I like the sounds of that. I can already imagine the book tour. And the Oprah invitation.

Braids of the Gorgon

I haven't posted recently in part because I've been spending most of my free time creating comics instead of reading, buying, or talking about them. So I thought I'd take some time this week and show everyone what's cookin'...

First up is Braids of the Gorgon, written by Ken Faggio and illustrated by Jason Copland. A few months ago I asked Jason what he was working on. He mentioned a book that had sort of taken the back burner over the last year or so, but one that he was still excited about. With a little prodding, he sent me some art he drew for the story, a script for the first issue, and a synopsis for what was yet to come.

The story takes place in ancient Greece and features all of the action and mythology you might expect, but what drew me into the tale was the emotion that hid just under the surface from beginning to end. It's so much more than surface drama. There are some great themes running throughout the story, and the characters seem just right to make those themes come to life for the reader. I definitely liked what Ken and Jason had put together so far.

I told Jason I would love to help if I could, and the next thing I know, I'm on the phone with Ken. I thought Ken and I hit it off pretty well. He was certainly passionate about the story, and he was receptive to some ideas I threw his way. We had a pretty quick but very powerful brainstorm on how to tighten the script and pull out some of the key elements of the tale, and a few days later, Ken had a fresh script for me to read, edit, and make comments on.

Now we're just about ready to finalize the script for issue one, and Ken just sent me the second draft of issue two. Combine that with some fantastic sketches Jason recently finished (two of which I've included in this post) and it becomes evident that we've got a contender here. If all goes well, we'll have a pitch package ready before Thanksgiving. And if things go like I expect them to, you'll be seeing Braids of the Gorgon on the shelves next Spring.

By Crom, I'm a Conan Fan

Sometime last fall, I was in the middle of an email exchange with my good pal Jason Bovberg. We were talking books and comics, and at one point I asked him if he's ever read any pulpy adventure books like Conan, either as an adult or as a kid. He didn't take much interest in the topic and sort of brushed it off with a "I don't get into that stuff the way you do."

At the time I didn't know what he was talking about. I'm not a sword and sorcery fan. Sure, I've read a few comics, I've read a few books, but that doesn't mean I "get into that stuff."

Flash forward to last night. It's half time of one of the most thrilling Monday Night Football games in recent memory, and I'm sitting on the couch reading my third hardcover Conan collection in three nights. I'm eating it up, soaking in Cary Nord's art and enjoying the hell out of Kurt Buziek's version of the barbarian. Then it hits me: I'm reading Conan. Then again: I'm a Conan fan. Then again: I am so totally a fan of sword and sorcery stories.

It's funny, I've always loved Edgar Rice Burroughs and comics like The Warlord and Conan The Barbarian, yet I never considered myself a fan. I've always marveled at Frank Frazetta's art. Hell, I even dabbled in comics like Arak, Son of Thunder. With all the evidence stacked against me, how could I just now be realizing I love this stuff?

I have no idea why I never really put two and two together. It's not like adventure stories would be considered a guilty pleasure. There's no shame in the idea. I've never looked down on the stories or their fans. But for whatever reason, I'm just now figuring it all out.

And of course, knowing me, this new knowledge can only lead to one thing: a shopping spree. Yep, it's time to look for other books in the genre. I'm debating diving into Dynamite Entertainment's Red Sonja series, or possibly checking out their reprints of the old Marvel books. Or maybe some older Marvel Conan books are in order, or even some Tor, Ka-Zar, or even Jungle Girl action?

I've heard mixed reviews on all of these characters and titles, but at this point, I just want to devour some adventurous sword and sorcery books, and knowing me, my wallet will take the brunt of the chaos that's about to ensue. Actually, the more I think about it, I feel an eBay search coming my way...I think I found my niche.

Yorick Wouldn't Stand a Chance

I Am Hercules over at Ain't It Cool News posted a rumor about the forthcoming Y: The Last Man film. While I've always been behind Shia Lebaouf playing Yorick, I'm wasn't sold on Alicia Keys as Agent 355. That is, not until I wrote 500 words on why she wouldn't work. The more I wrote, the more I realized she would kick so much ass in that role.

I totally dug Keys in Smocking Aces. Let's face it, she can certainly handle herself as a beautiful killer. Agent 355 is a lot more than just a killing machine, however, and Keys didn't show off enough acting in Aces for me to feel totally confident in her ability to nail the more complex 355 character.

But let's imagine for a moment that she can. If so, I can see all sorts of great moments in the film. I mean, seriously, Yorick's the last man on Earth and for years he abstains from sexual relations as he searches for his long lost girlfriend. How hard would it be to stay the course if he's walking the Earth with 355/Keys, who, let's face it, is absolutely gorgeous? I can only imagine the great one-liners both characters would use in the film. Y features great dialog (which I hope would be carried over to the film), and I think a more attractive 355 could open the door to some great humor during those quiet moments between disasters.

Even more important is the Yorick/355 relationship. It starts with endless banter and random quips and sarcasm, then slowly turns into a solid friendship, and then turns into sexual tension you can almost feel. This slow build leads to one of the best, most bittersweet finales I've ever read. Damn, what a great series that was!

So yeah, if Keys can handle 355's more subtle attributes and can create some serious chemistry with Lebaouf, then my expectations will be through the roof for this one. I try not to get my hopes up for any movie, particularly before there's even a hint of a script or true casting calls, but with Y: The Last Man and names like Labeouf and Keys, it's hard not to get excited.

If Giddiness Had a Name...

I'm a simple guy with simple pleasures. And tonight I got totally excited when I learned that Dark Horse is reprinting the old Marvel run of Indiana Jones comes. Indiana Jones Omnibus: The Further Adventures Volume 1 reprints the first 12 issues of the old Marvel series along with Marvel's adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

This is the series that got me reading comics as a kid. Sure, I read comics from time to time before this title hit the stands, but I ate these comics up each and every month. I loved the character (and still do), and I read and re-read each issue, soaking up each panel. And those cliffhangers. Ugh! I hated having to wait 30 days to find out what happened next, but at the same time, I loved it. This was the first experience with serialized storytelling, and I couldn't get enough.

Sure, the series lost some of its edge once the issue numbers got into the double digits, but I didn't care how outlandish the stories got. It was Indiana Jones uncovering an artifact and having to fight or flee for his life. What more could a kid ask for?

I missed Dark Horse's reprints of the old Star Wars series, and the collector in me won't allow myself to get a second-hand copy or a later printing, but I'm not going to let that happen with this series. I've actually been seriously considering reading my old copies of the Marvel Indy series, but now I don't have to.

* * *

On a side not, Dark Horse also announced volume five of their Savage Sword of Conan reprints. I'll admit that those old Conan tales are hit or miss, but I still eat this stuff up all the time. I don't even know exactly what I like about the barbarian, but there's just something about the sword and sorcery, the scantily clad women, the brutal fights...damn I love that stuff. Hell, just look at that cover. I'd say it's worth the price of admission all by itself (plus, it'll look damn nice on the shelf because Dark Horse does a nice job with their consistent use of their trade dress). Yep, I'm definitely looking forward to adding this volume to my shelf of Conan books.

A New Day Has Dawned

The post-Favre era has begun, and it looks good so far. (Actually, it looks great. The new Samsung LN52A650 with an HD feed? Fantastic. How did I ever watch football in standard def?) Aaron Rodgers led the Packers well in his first start. Considering all the pressure he was under, I'd actually say he led the team very well. And I have to admit, it's nice to see a nimble quarterback running around the field. Nobody open? Oh, I'll just run for the first.

One thing for sure, Rodgers can throw the long ball if given time. His TD pass to Donald Driver that was nullified due to penalty was oh so pretty. I'm looking forward to more of that this season.

I'm not ready to buy my Super Bowl tickets just yet, but I am growing optimistic. Sure, the Vikings defense hasn't been to good against the pass for several years, but last night's victory was a great stepping stone. Rodgers exceeded expectations, and I'm looking forward to what happens next. I've already got Sept. 21 circled on the calendar. That's when the titans of the NFC face off. Cowboys vs. Packers in HD. Now that's going to be a great birthday present to myself.

Was Frodo a Hero?

I had surgery on my leg last week, and when I wasn't sleeping or watching football on my new television (HD football in widescreen is so bloody awesome!), I was catching up with old friends in Middle Earth. But after 12 hours of watching Frodo carry his burden, I'm wondering if he was a hero in the end.

I mean, let's face it, he carried that damn ring like a champ, but didn't he give in to its power at the end? If Golum hadn't have mucked things up, would Frodo have tossed that ring into the lava? It sure as hell didn't seem like he was going to. If anything, he was going to force his good friend Sam to do something drastic, like toss dear ol' Frodo into the pit.

Don't get me wrong, I love the films (despite never being able to get passed page 100 or so of the first novel). Great entertainment. And yes, having Frodo show weakness in the end added a sense of, I don't know, frailty or humanity to the whole experience. But c'mon, sending Golum and the ring into the lava was a complete accident. There was a scuffle, the combatants got too close to the edge, and suddenly the ring was melting. Where's the hero in that situation?

I always hate when the hero accidentally saves the day in key scenes. The Phantom Menace had lots to dislike, but the real kicker for me was seeing young Anni destroy the droid ship by pressing random buttons in the cockpit of his fighter. Good grief. What a let down. I want to see the hero win through effort, tenacity, wits, or strength, not luck.

Was Frodo a hero? He certainly was throughout the story, right up until the end. I'd say he was a hero right up until the point where I lost interest in the story, actually. Which is too bad, because 12 hours is a lot of time to invest in something that's just going to let you down at the end.

Defective Comics

When I wasn't spoiling Star Wars for myself, I rooted around in my closet and found a stack of comics I haven't read, some of which were still in the blue plastic bag Mile High uses. My first instinct was that I needed to hurry and get those books into Mylar. When that trauma died down, I examined my find. Inside one bag was the latest issue of Detective Comics, the one I worried about just yesterday.

So which is worse? Feeling too overwhelmed with activities to take 10 minutes to find a comic shop, or not remembering you already found said comic shop and bought the book you were looking for?

Ah, Crap!

As I stated a few days ago, I read Star Wars novels. I finished Tempest last night, and I must say I'm enjoying this whole Legacy of the Force series. I still have six more books to read in the series, which makes what happened last night all the more upsetting.

I had 20 minutes to kill, so I flipped through this month's issue of Wired and started reading the article by Chris Baker about Leland Chee, the Star Wars continuity guru. It's an interesting article about Chee's job policing everything Star Wars and making sure there are no inconsistencies. At the bottom of one two-page spread is a timeline of the various Star Wars tales. I just sort of soaked it in, reading a few of the key moments when my eyes unknowingly fell on the part about the series I'm reading. And just like that, I know the outcome of the series I'm reading. I know who dies and I know who kills him.

Wonderful.

This spoiler isn't nearly as bad as the time I went to watch The Usual Suspects for the first time at a friend's house. Just an hour before I left, I was watching an Atlanta Braves game when the camera man panned the crowd to Kevin Spacey and the commentator said, "Look, Keyser Soze." At the time I didn't even know what that meant, but ten minutes into the film and I knew the answer to that riddle.

Wonderful.

I told Stephanie I had read a huge spoiler from the Star Wars books and she said, "Good, now you don't have to read them anymore."

No, I'll keep reading, but it'll be all about the journey instead of any revelations or excitement about the climax of the story. But I've learned my lesson. From now on, I read my stories, whether they be novels or comics, as they come out instead of waiting for the entire story arc to conclude.

Simplify Your Life

You ever get the feeling that you're just too busy? That you've taken too much on and you're snowed under with all the responsibility? That's how I'm feeling today. You'd think this realization would rear its ugly head when I noticed that my to-do list features items like work over time to keep the bosses happy, mow the lawn, paint the office, get finalized scripts to Evan, put together a final pitch package for Dear Santa, contact Danielle and Charles about their art samples, and prepare for all three fantasy football drafts.

No, I realized I'm too busy when I found out that the latest issue of Detective Comics came out three weeks ago and I didn't pick it up. It seems so inconsequential, but I was totally looking forward to that issue and I just completely spaced it. When you have too much on your plate to drive the three miles to the comic shop to pick up a comic, you've go issues.

Now I have to either get one of the remaining and totally inferior copies of the comic, which just isn't acceptable, or I forget it all together. It's actually gotten to the point where I'm considering just selling off all of my comics, relieving my office of some clutter, and sticking to the trades that are lining my bookcases, waiting to be read.

Funny how just last week I was all excited to be reading again, and now I'm swamped. I need more hours in the day. Don't get me wrong, most of the items on my list are fun things that I look forward to doing, but with so much happening at once, even reading a comic or playing a game of Madden 09 suddenly seems like a chore that I have to rush through so I can get to one of the other items.

Sigh. Hobbies aren't meant to be stressful.

Guilty Pleasures: Star Wars Novels

I've been suffering from a nasty cold all week. It's one of those without undue headaches or sneezing or coughing, but unfortunately, with all the congestion in my chest, just walking up the stairs makes me so tired I feel like I'm going to tip over from exhaustion.

When I'm feeling under the weather like I am now, I like to do nothing more than read. I used to read a book a week, but the older I get and the more responsibilities I take on at home, at work, or wherever, I find myself reading less and less. So this week, despite the lingering cold, I'm reading like mad and loving it. Yet instead of reading one of the 100s of unread first edition books I own that are bound to be well written and dramatic, I'm reading a Star Wars novel.

I have over 50 Star Wars novels in my library, and I've read nearly every one. The same cannot be said for over half of the other books in my collection. Yet even though I continue to read them pretty religiously, almost no one knows I read these books. My wife teases me about it, and my good friend Jason has all but conceded that he'll never talk me out of it. But other then those two, no one knows. (Until now, obviously.)

It's almost like I'm ashamed of myself. It's like I'm reading romance novels instead of popular fiction that reaches millions of readers each year. I hide it from everyone, knowing that ridicule and jokes are right around the corner when I announce my reading habits. I mean, I'm a grown man. I graduated with an English degree. I understand the difference between a good writing and bad. I should know better, right?

The funny thing is, I know that most of these novels aren't very good. Hell, half the time I put them down and proclaim, "I'm not reading this drivel anymore." No matter the storyline, there's never any real emotion. At least, not the likes of which you'll find in novels not owned by someone other than the author. No Star Wars novel grabs me, makes me want to laugh, or puts a lump in my throat. And here I am, reading Star Wars: Tempest, the third book in the Legacy of the Force series, the 10th or 12th or 20th such series set in the Star Wars universe. And you know what? It's not that bad. Actually, that's not it exactly. The book is familiar. Yeah, that's more like it. I know these characters and I want to know what happens next, despite my inner English student's protests.

This must be how housewives feel about their soap operas. Or why so many comic book readers read the same series each and every month regardless of whether or not the story's any good. It's that serial fiction that compels you to tune in time and time again, because you know that things are going to heat up and really get rocking the second you bow out.

Sure, I can think of a 100 better things to read then Star Wars novels, but despite their shortcomings, they are entertaining, and I know exactly what I'm getting into each and every time. And while that should be the kiss of death, sometimes, when you're stressed, or tired, or have a nasty cold, it's just what the doctor ordered.

A Brief Conversation with Stephanie

So I was reading my stack of Wonder Woman comics last night (yes, Wonder Woman). Although I normally like to enjoy my comic reading in the comfort and security of my own office, I chose to read them in the living room. As a kid, I loved reading on the floor with the book on the coffee table, and now that we finally have a table in our living room, I figured why not?

"How can you read your comics out there?" Stephanie asked as she prepared to read in bed. (She obviously doesn't care about the condition of her books, right?)

"What do you mean?"

"Look at the way you're reading them. Aren't you going to damage them?"

"Oh, I don't care so much about that. These are new comics I just bought. I don't really care about how mint they are. I just want to read the story."

"Well, you don't look very comfortable."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Sit on the couch."

"Then I'd have to bend forward too far to actually read it. That'd kill my back."

"No, I mean sit on the couch and hold the comic in your hands."

"Oh," I said, laughing a little. "Are you crazy? No way. I'd never do that to a comic book."

Love This Quote

Robert Downey, Jr., pimping his new film, Tropic Thunder, has one of the best comic book quotes I've read in awhile, so I had to post it here. Check out moviehole for the entire interview.

"My whole thing is that that I saw 'The Dark Knight'. I feel like I'm dumb because I feel like I don't get how many things that are so smart. It's like a Ferrari engine of storytelling and script writing and I'm like, 'That's not my idea of what I want to see in a movie.' I loved 'The Prestige' but didn't understand 'The Dark Knight'. Didn't get it, still can't tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character and in the end they need him to be a bad guy. I'm like, 'I get it. This is so high brow and so f--king smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie.' You know what? F-ck DC comics. That's all I have to say and that's where I'm really coming from."

Greg vs. Greg Part 2: Another Retort

It's a little late to comment on Rich's second Greg vs. Greg post, so I'll keep it short. I agree with Rich on pretty much all points concerning Land's quality: his art is definitely pleasing to the eye. His characters have personality, they have beauty, they have emotion. I can get behind an artist who's style brings all of that to the table. But you know, there's a something seedy about him taking another creator's work and tracing it to make comic art.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure even doing that takes a level of skill that most of us don't have. I know I couldn't do it. And there are plenty of artists who take their own snapshots for posing, lighting, etc. to get it just right. But Land is going beyond that. To me, if he's not giving credit to the photographers and models who he's swiping, then he's stealing someone else's creativity for his own gain.

This topic has been done to death, so I don't need to add my two cents to the debate. But I learned early and often that a writer does not plagiarize, and I know I'd never make it at Marvel if I sent in a Star Wars ripoff with Han and Luke replaced with Wolverine and Cyclops. So why does he get away with it? I don't know, but I do know that this question is all it takes for me to find fault with the man's work.

As I said, I like Land's art. I can really let my eyes soak in every detail and the art stands up to that scrutiny. And his characters have solid emotion in their eyes (probably because of the photo tracing), which lets me connect with the fictional character in a way few artists allow me to. Yet that only takes me so far. No matter how much I enjoy a particular image, I always find myself stepping out of that moment and realizing that it probably came from somewhere else. And that's almost unforgivable. Not because I'm looking down from some moral high ground, but because his style all but forces me out of the moment. As a storyteller, that's simply inexcusable.

Yeah, I know. It's because of his style that I like his work, yet it's because of his style that I don't like his work. It's a sick catch 22. Some cruel joke from the comic Gods. Lucky for me, though, it's not something that keeps me up at night.

It's a Sad Day in Packerland

The picture above makes me sick. Favre a Jet? I want to curl up into a ball and sleep through the football season. I haven't been thrilled with the offseason for the Packers. The way they've dealt with the Favre situation has made me sick to my stomach. Late last week, my hopes were revived when I heard rumors that the team would be open to a quarterback competition and that they were prepared to welcome Favre back. I immediately pictured that fairy tale ending to his career where he leads the team to one final Super Bowl victory.

That all changed when the team and Favre decided to go their separate ways. I was upset, but last night, for the first time, I found myself rooting for an individual player and not my beloved team. I found myself hoping that Favre would land on his feet with the Bucs and help them get to the playoffs if not the Super Bowl. And yes, I was already inquiring about getting tickets to the Packers/Bucs game with help from Stephanie's parents who live in Tampa.

But none of that matters now. As of last night, Brett Favre is a New York Jet. That's right, a Jet. Good Christ, a fucking Jet. And I thought I was sick before. I can't even comprehend what this means. The best QB in Packers history has been thrown out like last week's garbage. And for what? A conditional draft pick? Some no-name rookie who'll never even see the playing field?

It's not the trade that's upset me. Well, that's not the only part of this debacle making me ill this morning. It's that Favre is with a team that has next to no chance of being any good. They'll be better with Favre, there's no doubt about that, and yes, I'll be pulling for him to lead them to some extra victories. But becoming a playoff caliber team might be out of reach for Jets, with or without Favre.

A Jet? Oh hell, I need a drink.

Edited to add: Gene Wojciechowski expresses his thoughts on the Favre debacle and explains the trade details in his new article on the situation. The Packers may get someone decent, but he'll be no Favre. Fucking Packers! Ugh.

Greg vs. Greg Part I: A Retort

I've been aware for awhile now that Rich Lovatt enjoys Greg Land's artwork yet finds problems in Greg Horn's. They certainly have different styles while delivering the cheesecake, but I never understood why Rich could take offense to one but not the other. So I asked him. In answer, Rich posted the first part of his explanation. Being the good friend I am, I have to play devil's advocate and call him out...at least a little.

Rich's first problem with Horn is that the artist overtly sexualizes his subject. I'm not going to argue that. It's true. And while I enjoy my fair share of comics with scantily clad females on the cover, it does get a little overwhelming sometimes. But is that something to criticize an artist for? Not really. Publishers, such as Marvel, ask him to do a cover and they expect their heroines to appear as sexy as possible, regardless of the story taking place between the covers. It's what he does best so why expect anything else?



Take for example the Emma Frost #1 cover (above). Rich is spot on; Horn's Emma Frost covers are designed to make Frost out to be as sexy (and as naked) as possible. And yes, that sexuality has nothing to do with the storyline. But you know, I can't knock Horn for that. Marvel paid him for an Emma Frost illustration. The editors should never have accepted it if they felt it did the storyline a disservice.



As for Rich's assertion that Horn didn't straying far enough from that overt sexuality even after he'd been asked to tone it down, well, I just have to disagree. When I went to high school, the girls dressed sexy too, even if that meant short skirts. Plus, as an added bonus, I think Horn actually captures the emotions of a frightened, naive teen on the cover of issue 8 (above). Not many cheesecake illustrators manage that one. If Marvel didn't want sexy, they would've found another artist. Instead, they stuck with Horn, which means they probably asked for a sexy teenager.



Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge Horn fan. He doesn't have a wide range, and to be honest, I think his images are great at first glance, but upon scrutiny, that sense of sex appeal loses some of its luster. And that emotion that I've been seeking from comic book storytelling, that emotion he captured on the cover of Emma Frost 8, well, that's not always there, which is too bad because even the sexy images stand out more with emotion shining through.

No, I'm not disagreeing with Rich, just thinking that his reasoning is off kilter a little. And as for Horn's inability to draw women that actually look unique? Well, personally, I think that's a shortcoming of a lot of comic cover artists, and I challenge Rich to show me a cover artist for the big boys who manages to deliver on that one. I'll be surprised if he finds someone, but if so, I'm sure it won't be Greg Land.

If You've Got a Niche, Scratch It

The What's Your Niche thread over at the Collector's Society has me scouring the Internet for scans of comics covers. (NOTE: If you head over to read the thread, be warned that there's juvenile guy humor in the first page or two that might not be safe for work.) If you've read my blog, The Collector's Mentality, you know that I love to start collections but I've never managed to finish one. Well, I'm at it again.

I might be a collector, but I'm first and foremost a comic reader. I've always bought and read a particular series, or artist, or writer. In other words, this whole niche thing is new to me. Buy a comic just because there's a guy on the cover getting hit by a fish? That's what Great Escape does (that's his book on the right there). And there are plenty of people who get into bondage covers, or any cover that features a dinosaur, or redheads, or whatever. How cool would it be to have 1000 covers with the same theme on the cover? You could see how art has progressed through time.

I have no idea what my niche would be. Maybe people floating in space? Or because I like Edgar Rice Burroughs books so much (and Mike Grell's Warlord) maybe it should be guys in loin cloths? A friend who has an affinity for the drawn female form suggested up-skirt angle shots of female heroes. Not the most PC collection to get into, and I doubt that would go over well with Stephanie, but it sure would give me plenty of items to choose from.

Knowing me, I'd never narrow down what I wanted long enough to actually start a collection, but I do like the idea. If nothing else, it gives me something to think about at work...boring, boring work.

Wes's New Site

For those looking for a comic strip to get into, check out Wes Molebash's new site. If you've ever had a relationship, you really should already be reading You'll Have That. It's funny because it's true and we've all been there. And if you have never read the strip, start from the beginning.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

You can add this to the list of things I didn't see at the convention last weekend (good grief, it's like I wasn't even there). Ain't It Cool News just posted high res versions of the new Watchmen character posters and they look totally cool.

I'm not in love with the book like many comic fans (probably because I read it years after its release when every comics features "real" heroes), but I'm getting more and more excited for the film every time I see something new from the production. The trailer rocked. The stills I've seen look fun. And now, I just dig these new posters. I like how each one sort of hides the line "Who watches the Watchmen" somewhere in the image. Well, all of them but the Silk Spectre one (or is that Sally Jupiter?). I've looked, and I can't find it anywhere on the poster. Anyone else spot it? (Click here for a much larger version.)

Meanwhile, Rich questions just how comfortable the Silk Spectre costume really is now that we get a shot from a different angle. I think he's right...doesn't look exactly made for crime fighting.



Edited to add: Those new Watchmen posters are new takes on the vintage ads for the comic. I like 'em even more now.

Mile High Comic Club

I ran by Mile High Comics yesterday and Aaron mentioned that a local artist was doing the art for a new Vertigo book called Madame Xanadu. This was the first time in all the years that I've gone to the comic shop that he mentioned anyone local was in the comic creation business. Not sure why, exactly, but for some reason I doubted that an artist would hail from Denver. Everyone else I've met in my short stint in comics comes from one of the coasts or lives in Pennsylvania or Texas. Certainly not Denver.

But he persisted. "Seriously. Amy Reeder Hadley shops here," he said. I flipped through the first issue (which actually came out last month) and was impressed by the art. I bought it. I read it. Now I'm surprised that I never heard of Hadley before. Her art fit the tone of the book to a tee. It has a hint of manga, but is firmly grounded in the fantasy world. I don't normally get into fantasy, but I'm eager to go back and pick up issue 2.

Anyway, I researched Hadley and discovered she's also writing and doing the art chores for Fool's Gold, a TokyoPop series. And she's from Denver. Right in my own neighborhood. Who knew? Unfortunately, I got this information a week too late or I would've introduced myself at the con.

But Hadley isn't the only Mile High Comic Creator. I met Chachi Hernandez on the flight to San Diego. Turns out he and his brother write and draw a strip called Joe Comics, which is currently up for voting over at zuda. He was a nice guy who seemed eager to be at the convention. I looked over some of his art and was very impressed. So much so that I invited him to pitch me a story for Dear Santa.

What does this all mean? Just that I'm learning that there are more and more comic creators right here in my own backyard. Now if we could just get some sort of convention out here and maybe even more artists and writers nearby will start to come out of the woodwork.

These Boots are Made for Walking

Shoes actually. Two new pair to be even more precise. And who is it doing the walking? Caleb Monroe, one cool cat who just happens to be a fantastic comic book writer. He bought new shoes and a pedometer this year to see just how far he walks during the convention. His findings are pretty surprising.

I knew there's a lot of walking each year, but I had no idea it was that much. No wonder I'm beat after the first couple of days. Next year I'll try to be prepared and actually bring walking shoes instead of forgetting to pack them and being stuck with my more dressy work shoes the entire time.

Comics Coast-to-Coast

Well, Jason Rodriguez managed to pull off his coast-to-coast comic adventure. He pulled out of DC on July 14 on his way to the convention. Ten days, several cases of beer, and 3300 miles later, he was in San Diego enjoying the biggest comic nerd fest the world has to offer.

If you haven't read his comments from the road, Coast-to-Coast Comicdom over at DCist.com, you should do yourself the favor. He hits a bunch of comic shops and chats with retailers, fans, and creators from across the US. It's an enlightening and fun read. Go check it out.

In his last report, you'll read about the Eisner ceremony where Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened lost to 5 for Best Anthology. I haven't read 5 so I can't speak to its worthiness, but judging by the creators involved, I can understand why they went home with the award. Stephanie and I were at the ceremony and for us, it was a thrill just to see a book I was a part of mentioned with other greats from the comic world. Sure, it sucks to lose, I won't lie about that. But at this point, I really can say it feels great just to be nominated.

If Comic Book Adventure Had a Name...

I was in need of a quick read last night, so I picked up my copy of Indiana Jones Adventures Volume 1. Say what you will about a grown man reading an adventure comic aimed at kids, but the thing was damn good. This is exactly the way an Indiana Jones comic should be put together.

Phillip Gelatt's story is pretty simple, but it's got a nice fast pace that hones in on the action and excitement Indy is known for (unlike some of the other Dark Horse Indy comics that, for whatever reason, tend to stay away from the fun side of things). I really enjoyed Ethan Beavers' art, too. Like the story, it was simple and focused on the action with some dynamic angles and good decisions on what to show and what not to.

I haven't bothered reading the new Dark Horse Indiana Jones series, but with more Indy Adventures books on the way (I hope) I won't have to.

Guess Who's Back

More great news coming out from the convention. Mike Grell is back writing The Warlord for DC Comics starting sometime in early 2009. Perhaps even better news is that the series won't have anything to do with the miniseries from 2006 (what a disaster that was).

I consider The Warlord my gateway drug into the world of super hero comics. I didn't start reading funny books until I learned that new Star Wars and Indiana Jones stories could be found at comic shops. My interest in those waxed and waned for some time, and so did my interest in comics. Then I tried The Warlord. And WHAM! just like that, I was hooked. I loved the swords, I loved the epic battles and evil overlords with cool names (reminded me of the Pelucidar series by Edgar Rice Burroughs), and of course, I loved the scantily clad ladies.

As a boy, I couldn't get enough of the series. Every month I was at the comic shop or at 7-11, hoping to learn what happened next to Travis Morgan, Tara, and Machiste. I could never decide what I wanted to see more on the cover: Morgan with sword in hand battling some creature or the half-naked Shakira (of course, the best featured both). And because I became somewhat of a Warlord junkie, I began to frequent the local comic shop more and more. Eventually the owner tempted me with Green Arrow, Batman, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Uncanny X-Men. After that, all that remained for my love affair with comics was to learn how to keep them pristine and minty fresh.

I'll always consider The Warlord my first love. So I'm very excited to have him back. With Grell penning the series, my expectations are high, and I know it'll be difficult to recapture that same feeling I had reading the series as a kid. But I've got my fingers crossed. Even if the new book isn't that great, I still hope that DC finally gets around to reprinting those old stories. That way I can get my fix one more time without risking damage to those nearly perfect copies in my closet.

Sweet News: New Pulp Adventure Series

Just got word that Charles Ardai, the man behind Hard Case Crime, will be editing a series called The Adventures of Gabriel Hunt. This series is intended to be to pulp adventure fiction what Hard Case Crime is to crime fiction. That notion gets to thumbs up from this fan.

I grew up reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, and a few other science fiction/adventure pulp masters. And I've been known to read an Indiana Jones novel from time to time, too. Just recently I started looking for new, modern books to read along the whole pulp adventure vein. And here we are with something to look forward to in 2009.

Yep, this new series sounds like it will be right up my alley. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Loot From the Con

I just returned from another fantastic trip to San Diego for the convention. Unlike the last couple of years, I actually bought something this time. That's right, instead of coming home empty handed I managed to come home with some loot.

I didn't come home with much, though. I was just too overwhelmed with all the things you can buy. And because I could find most of it online for much cheaper than cover price or SRP, why bother. Instead, I focused on the one limited item I had to have: Frank Cho's 2008 San Diego print. It features a sexy maiden being captured by one of the brutal green men of Mars. As an Edgar Rice Burroughs fan, I had to buy this gorgeous print with beautiful colors by Brandon Peterson. Of course, it was the limited nature of the print that made me run to the Image booth moments after getting my badge, but that's beside the point.

While I was there, I also picked up a copy of Cho's latest sketchbook, Mars Maidens. I already own most of the images in the book, but with that title and the limited nature of the book, I couldn't refuse. At least he signed it and did a quick doodle. In about 3 seconds, he drew a well-endowed naked lady. He could probably draw that with his eyes closed.

I decided against picking up his other sketch book, Jungle Girls, but upon getting home and checking eBay prices, I regretted that decision almost immediately. Oh well, at least I managed to get the other one home without a ding, scratch, or tear.