Independent Comics

I am sitting at Diamond House Chinese buffet waiting for them to open. They have fairly delicious food, I love ethnic foods other than American. Anyway on to comics, I haven't read any new comics lately. However a couple of months ago I had the pleasure of reading 'Comic Fan' # 4, printed by Main Enterprises. 'Comic Fan' is an awesome fan magazine with great page layout and high quality paper stock. A fine representation of the Independent Press. I'd do a search on ecrater.com and find their store to order from.
I have been submerging myself in all things 'small press'. Comics are just a lot more fun in the land of the 'Indies'. I have been lackluster for Dc and Marvel as of late. I still love the Batman and X-men, but I haven't been spending my money or time on their books lately. The change over to Small Press is very refreshing for me...and quite frankly it has been liberating! I am excited about the invent and printing of a new book releasing this summer from Fanatic Press called 'Comics Cafe'. They are doing Free Reviews of any who sends in their comic.
I have also been enjoying a talkshow on Talkshoe.com by Dan Burke entitled 'Independent Comics Cafe'. The call ID is 48818. It has been a very encouraging and upbuilding experience that I enjoy listening to. As an aspiring comic book artist it can be frustrating not being able to get your work out there for the public to see. His show is very encouraging and it has been a great pick me up. I like listening to his Podcasts while I draw.
If you don't know much about comic books or small press I highly recommend learning all you can about the movement. Independents made their mark in the 70's and they are back with a vengeance!

Give it a listen:

Apartment Fire

I recently had an incident at my apartment complex. A vacant apartment beside mine caught fire on the 17th of this month. Apparently there were some squatters that had access to a key for the empty unit. They were using the electric stove to heat the apartment. Needless to say; due to cheap wiring, it caused a huge kitchen fire. Their kitchen was directly behind my kitchen wall and it burned through my wiring and all the studs in between the wall separating our apartments. Boy has this made me re-examine my life and my priorities! God works in mysterious ways. I'm staying with my wife and daughter down south until my apartment gets fixed. Heck I'll probably just end up moving down here w/my family. I miss my friends up north and my job but I can always start over fresh. On the bright side I am now spending every second w/my precious baby girl!!

Jackie Moon!!!

Love me sexy!!! You guys gotta go rent 'Semi-Pro'!! It is very funny I think, and Will Ferrell actually sings at the beginning!!!! It's hilarious. It is going to be freezing cold tonight. It is going down to -3 below tonight!!! CUDDLE ALERT!

I've been watching alot of movies. 'Eagle Eye' sucked really really bad. 'Hancock' was great IMO!! I'm waiting to see 'Pineapple Express' & 'Step Brothers' maybe this weekend!! Until then take care guys!

2009 is already starting off with a BANG!!!

I always have liked the month of January. It's like a do-over or a fresh pair of underwear. A new chance at a new age. I don't make new years resolutions but I do have goals set for the years to come. My main goal is to work and work and work on sequential storytelling with my pencil. I never realized how hard panel to panel art could be. I have a few pages already mapped out in thumbnails and I look forward to improving my technique. I want to tell a proper story with my art. On another note I'm hoping to see my daughter this month. I might have to go to where she is because the wife isn't able to travel right now. I'll keep you posted. God Bless you and continue to strive to be a better person in the years to come! Take care of you and your loved ones. After all Family is the MOST important asset of all.

How did Satan get into MY comics?

There seems to be a reoccurring trend in movies, television shows, and now my comics! Numerous mentions of the devil, spiritualistic rituals, demons, and all things opposite of God. Let's start with Marvel. Fans of 'Spider-Man' know the fiasco of 'Brand New Day'. Mephisto or the devil makes a bargain with our boy Spidey. Which erases all continuity of Spider-Man and Civil War events. Then we move on a few years later and we have my all-time favorite Marvel comic: 'X-Force'. Needless to say I was very pleased to see 'X-force' make a comeback and the return of Domino was an extra special treat for me. But in #9 references are made to Ghost Rider (a man who is inhabited by a demon), and Demon Bear ( a demon that looks like a grizzly). Wherein Johnny Blaze says "I'm going to teach you how to kill a demon."

Then we have DC, and my all-time favorite character: Batman. Well if you haven't heard the internet buzz, or read the forums, and message boards about Batman and the Black Glove organization there has been numerous discussions about the head of said organization being none other than the Devil himself. My initial response was "WTF!!! What is Satan doing in a Batman story and why is he interested in Bruce Wayne?" After reading Morrison's run and putting the pieces together: spiritualistic rituals, demon-exorcisms, and other super-natural references and innuendos, I'm starting to think The Devil was intended to be GM's 'big reveal'. Which really wouldn't surprise me given Mr. Morrison is himself into the Occult and a practicer of magic. I guess being a Christian I find all this devil-talk to be highly offensive and quite frankly unoriginal story telling.

I do not want Satan, demons, or other evil spirit creatures in MY COMICS! I think it's ungodly to entertain these notions in my reading material. I think it is very inappropriate on both companies parts. Hell they don't even mention Jesus or God but they have no problem using Satan as a reoccurring character. I'm not claiming to be a 'model Christian' or anything but it's upsetting to me and it saddens me that my childhood hobby of comics is under attack from a very powerful evil presence and undertone. I will no longer purchase anything Grant Morrison has penned. As a Christian the idea of allowing this entity any recognition in fiction is appalling. What is happening to comic books these days? Following the trend that 'Satan is cool now' is a very dangerous and risky venture to embark upon. I for one will NOT entertain it any longer.

Sunday @ work @ 3 a.m...wow that's early.

There have been a lot of changes here at my work place. One of the newer supervisors was let go last week. He was a good guy. He just seemed to have a hard time fitting in with others. Well lets just say others felt he didn't blend in well here. I liked him he was a cool guy. People come and go here at our job. Security Officers are an expendable commodity around here. They go through guards like I go through sliders (White Castle hamburgers). It's a sad feeling to feel so replaceable. If I was a person who worried it would get to me. I don't worry because I know God will provide another job if I need one. Don't tell anyone but I had eight different jobs in one year before. Back in 1996 I think it was...heck I was a young, twenty-three year old, horny, party-going, carefree spirit back then. Work is a means to an end to me. I'm really seriously considering the possibility of college again this spring. The plan was to move to the south and take care of my mother-in-law and go to school, but my wife and I are working out a few of our differences so I'll be staying up north and she and my daughter are moving south on Thursday.

My daughter is seven months old and she is so precious. She is like a beacon of joy to me. As soon as I see her my day brightens. She is my fourth child. My only girl. I have three boys as well. They are my heart. Children are so important. I can't figure out why some don't take the time to raise them properly. They make me feel young when I'm around them. I get to climb on the monkey bars, and swing on swings, and slide down slides. I love it. My first wife, the one I had my two oldest boys with, has custody of my sons. I rarely see them, even when they lived less than two miles from my apartment. That has caused me more emotional pain than any other challenge I've ever faced. I miss being more active in their lives. I think they resent me for not being around as much as a real father should be. But I try so hard to see them but to no avail. I'm fortunate If I see them once a month.

I guess my ex-wife thinks I'm a loser and my fatherhood has no value to her, so if I get to see them isn't important to her. It's funny that some people think your worth is measured by how much you make an hour. Oh well It's all a part of being married to the wrong person and then having children with that person. Big mistake. Big mistake to think I could still be a father to children when the mother doesn't think you deserve to. She makes me feel like a single parent. I pay child support and I still don't get to see them. Both of my sons have cell phones, but they don't call me regularly. Once every few weeks if I'm lucky. My oldest is twelve and I think he resents me for having remarried. He still holds on to the hope that his mom and I will get back together. That saddens me and leaves me with serious guilt. My ex and I couldn't be any more wrong for each other.

I was twenty-one when I got married and very unprepared for married life. I didn't know that sometimes when you marry someone, that person will change. I wasn't prepared for that. I thought things would be great like they were throughout our courtship. Heck we courted for a year and a half before getting married. But in all honesty I take the blame for my first marriage not working out. I can give reasons and excuses but when it comes down to it, no matter what 'drove' me to cheat, I was the one who was unfaithful. And that is something I will live with the rest of my days. I only hope God and my children can forgive me.

Sitting @ work on a Saturday. (Thinking about Comic Books!)

It's early morning on a sunny but cold Saturday morning. I'm at work. Again. Seems like I never leave. I enjoy my job, I just wish I could manage my time better on my off days. I work Security at an automotive plant. They make heating and cooling parts for Ford. I do a lot of patrols inside and outside of the plant. It's fun. A lot of people don't think security is fun but I think it is. Most think we just sit on our ass. But I don't. Time goes by pretty smooth here. Before you know it you look up and it's almost time to go.

Thanksgiving Thursday was pretty cool. I went to a co-workers house for Turkey and beer. Good times were had by all. Friday I went to my Local Comic Book Store. When we pulled up Captain America was standing outside in the cold. It was cool because the guy made the costume himself and it looked like it was made well. I took some pics on my camera phone. Once I figure out how, I'll post them on here. I try to go to my Comic Shop once a week. It's like therapy to me. Almost as soon as I walk inside I feel at ease. All my cares and worries melt away. There have been rumors about comic books not selling good or LCBS going under, but I don't see that happening. I think it's a great time to be a comic book reader. X-men has been exciting, Batman has been awesome, and I'm really getting a kick out of Rulk, X-force, and Cable. Feel free to post a comment and let me know what you are reading!