...according to this survey.

Borderline Hero You scored 37% villainy!

Examples of Bordeline Heroes: Red X Dr. Fate A.M.A.Z.O. So maybe you're unorthodox; maybe, even, you don't really care a whole lot about good versus evil, and so on, but if push comes to shove, you prefer to come out on the side of good, when you can. People don't necessarily understand or even like you, but your nature is not, in the end, malicious; just apathetic. Good and Evil are just words made up by mankind, really. The only reason you associate with good, sometimes, is because the guys on the side of evil are such jerks that it's too difficult to get along with them.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 28% on villainy

Read more...

Bob Almond, noted comics inker and friend of mine, has long been pushing for more recognition for under appreciated job of comic book inking, and to that extent has been the mover and shaker for the new Inkwell Awards. Voting begins April 1st and runs through May 31st. In Bob's own words: THE INKWELL AWARDS are an all new, exciting award set up to celebrate the often overlooked and under appreciated artistry of inking within the comic book industry.

 

THE INKWELL AWARDS have been established and overseen by a number of professionals from all aspects of the comic book industry, including such artists as award founder Bob Almond (Black Panther, Annihilation: Conquest-Quasar, Warlock), Tim Townsend (Uncanny X-Men, The Amazing Spider-Man, Civil War), James Tournas (Full Moon Craze, Shylock, Epoch) along with Bill Nichols (Sketch magazine) and Daniel Best (Andru & Esposito: Partners For Life) and fully supported by Adam Hughes (Tomb Raider, Justice League, Wonder Woman, All Star Wonder Woman) along with senior DC Editor Mike Marts (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Wolverine, All Star Wonder Woman). Voting starts April 1st and ends May 30th. Results will be announced on the official web-site www.inkwellawards.com with further information on the first of July 2008.

 

The web-site will also feature biographies and commentary about potential nominees, inkers of note and the role of inking throughout comic book history. There will be awards for favourite inker, embellisher and many others, along with a hall of fame award named after industry legend Joe Sinnott. These awards will be voted up by both the public and industry peers with physical trophies which will be awarded to the winners (or families in the case of a posthumous award) and the results posted on the site.

Read more...

After a few minor glitches in trying to pay my artist who lives in Argentina, I finally have some penciled pages for presentation to publishers.  Robert Bienvenu is currently finishing up the inking, and I should have six fully scripted, inked and lettered samples to go along with the story and scripts.  When Robert finishes them up, I'll post a few here.

Read more...

We just got back from Pittsburgh after a two day trek to the comicon held down in the Pittsburgh ExpoMart each year. Pat and I have been going for years, but this year Dolores said she'd go too as long a we spent the night. We stayed at the Radisson, which adjoins the convention center, making it awfully convenient.

 

My main reason for going these days is to meet up with the friends I've made over the years. For instance, inker Bob Almond and I have been corresponding for some time now, and he's given a great deal of help in trying to get my own comic going. Bob's the one who hooked me up with my penciler, and during the con, he took time to look over the finished pages I had and give some critiques and advice, and action that illustrates what a classy guy he really is. The most amusing moments for me during convention came when Bob had to run up to his room for a few minutes and asked me to watch his booth. Fans would wander up and stare at me for a moment with "I don't think that's him" look for a minute before I would tell them that Bob would right back. Pat dared me to sign some sketches for customers and see if they wandered away confused about why Bob Almond was signing things "Rich Lane." (Don't worry, Bob. I didn't.)

 

I also met up with Ian Ascher. Ian has been writing and publishing through Digital Webbing, and his current book with them is Iron Angels. I introduced Ian to the open source program Inkscape for lettering comics, and he in turn let me know about Celtx for writing a properly formatted screenplay. We've be corresponding for several years now, but we met for the first time in person at last year's convention. Ian didn't come alone this year. He was accompanied by two of the real life fitness models that he uses as the basis for the book. The ladies looked a bit bewildered by the goings on at the convention, but both were very obliging when it came to interacting with the fans.

 

Ian tried to get me to take a picture with them, but I figured Dolores might not like that, nor did I wish some like that getting into the hands of my students, so I declined. Pat though, had no qualms about it, as can be seen here with Sonia Adcock (left) and Adela Garcia.

 

When the convention wound down on Saturday, we once again had dinner with long time friend Bryan Glass. Bryan and I have been cyber-friends for more than a decade, going back to when his claim to fame was being sued by the Dupont Corporation over the names of his characters in his self-published book Spandex Tights. These days, Bryan's stock has really been on the rise due to the success of the book Mice Templar that he created along with Mike Oeming. Like Bob, Bryan has given me tons of invaluable advice and constructive criticism about my own work. After dinner, Pat and I ended up back at the hotel until after 11 discussing my work and getting previews of Bryan's upcoming projects. The advice he gave not only helped me; Pat was enthralled as well, as much of what we talked about also applied to his communications major.

 

Other highlights included meeting Aaron Douglas, Chief Tyrol on SciFi Channel's Battlestar Galactica. Mr. Douglas was extremely gracious and accepting of my geekish gushing, and when I mentioned it to Bryan, he said that Mr. Douglas was one of the most unassuming and unpretentious stars he'd ever met at a convention. Dolores and I also got to talk to Fat Momma from Who Wants to Be a Superhero? We actually bumped into her when she was ahead of us the roasted cinnamon pecan stand (which Dolores is now addicted to). She was also very pleasant and gracious. As for my stash, I've kind of lost interest in the dollar and quarter bins, but we got some good deals on trade paperbacks. Other than the books, it was kind of slim pickings this year, possibly due to the controversy surrounding the Pittsburgh Con. Pat was really looking for a decent, wearable reproduction of Hal Jordan's Green Lantern ring, but there was absolutely no jewelry vendors there this year. My biggest prizes, however, came from the sword dealer there. I picked up not one but two swords there for an incredible price. I got a Celtic sword and a medieval Excalibur-type broadsword for thirty five dollars each. That was about half what I've been able to find anywhere else for decent reproductions, and these are great quality.

 

One of the cool things about teaching British literature is that I can rationalize the expense of buying swords by saying, "Hey, I teach Beowulf and Le Morte D'Arthur." Finally, I want to thank my ever lovely and accommodating wife Dolores for not only putting up with me going into full blown geek mode for a weekend, but also for participating in it. This was the first convention she's gone to since we lived in Albuquerque twenty years ago, and she didn't bat an eye at the craziness. Heck she doesn't even mind posing with my toys so I can put the picture up on my blog. Look out, Red Sonja--here comes Brown Dolores.

Read more...

From the comic Rage of the Red Lanterns and a suggestion by my buddy Dagwan:

 

Read more...