Archive for the ‘Previews’ Category

Álvaro Eduardo Lemos, a professor in the department of Ethics and Psychology at the University of Buenos Aires, contacted me about creating a Spanish version of ANTIGONE, the comic book by Tom Kurzanski and me, produced by Christian Beranek and Silent Devil.

If you want to read Antigone in Spanish, here’s a link to the pdf:
thatdavidhopkins.com/preview/Antigone-SpanishTranslation.pdf

It’s a Spanish translation of a comic book adaptation based off a modern translation of the ancient Greek tragedy. Such a twisted path. I’m glad his students will be able to enjoy what we’ve created, and I appreciate all the work Lemos has put into it.

Want to read it in English? Click here and scroll down.

It’s a western anthology from Image Comics. It’s available for pre-order in the Previews Catalog. It’ll be in comic shops on June 19th. And it features a short story by me and Italian artist Luigi Cavenago.

I’ve included a two-page preview of our story “Judge Roy Bean,” based on the historical Phantly Roy Bean Junior, an eccentric saloon owner and Justice of the Peace. He would hold court in his bar, occasionally making false accusations against people passing through in order to extort bribes from them. Bean was obsessed with English actress Lillie Langtry. He named the town after her and wrote letters to her every night. To read the entire eight-page Wild West court drama, make sure to tell your favorite comic book shop about Outlaw Territory, Vol. 3.

(click to see the full-size image)
Read more →

It’s not January. In fact, it’s almost March. I know it. You know it. However, the January short story doesn’t know about this small inconsistency. I would appreciate if you keep this secret between you and me. The short story thinks it’s January, and I don’t want it to be any more confused than it already is. Eventually, we’ll get caught up. Maybe. We have three short stories left. Then I will start organizing everything for the print edition.

This January short story is a little different. I wanted to experiment with telling the story entirely through dialogue. The short story consists of three shorter stories, all organized around a basic concept: two people sitting at a booth, having a conversation. Yes, sorta like Jim Jarmusch’s COFFEE AND CIGARETTES. I’m trying something new here, trying to grow as a writer. If you like it, you’re welcome. If you don’t like it, I’m sorry you’ve been victim to my explorations.

Oh, and I cannot stress this enough: this short story is fiction. It is in no way based on actual events or actual conversations, because that would be embarrassing. All fiction. All false. I’m totally making up this stuff as I go. I would prefer for you to believe that.

And don’t tell the January short story that it’s almost March.

Would you like to read this story? For only $10, you too can join the club. Right now, we have 129 subscribers. Here’s a preview of this month’s story:

“Conversations at Metro Diner” by David Hopkins

Mike and his friend Peter sit across from each other. It’s 2 a.m. They’ve been out drinking, not quite drunk, but hazy—if you can make such a distinction. They stopped for coffee and breakfast food before they head home. Mike is restless.

“The grand gesture is dead. It just is.”

“Like flowers and all that?” Read more →

To my subscribers, I just send the December short story. The files should be waiting in your inbox. So, where did November go? Fear not. There’s a reason why the Short Story of the Month Club promises “10 short stories in 12 months.” I knew I would need to factor in some “off months” for the occasional delay. November was such a month. It happens.

I hope you enjoy this story. “Six Seconds Left” includes some fantasy, some time travel, and some basketball. In case you were curious, Dale Howard is loosely based on Dallas Mavericks point guard Derek Harper and this moment in the NBA playoffs (note the first 30 seconds of the highlight video).

Would you like to read this story? For only $10, you too can join the club. Right now, we have 128 subscribers. Here’s a preview of this month’s story:

“Six Seconds Left” by David Hopkins

On May 30, 1988, on a Sunday afternoon, Dale Howard dribbled out the clock. The entire arena groaned. Coach raised his hands to pantomime, “What the hell are you doing?” Dale was confused. He looked at the scoreboard.

They were tied.

In the fog of the final minute, he thought they were ahead by one point. Didn’t Joe make both free throws in the last possession? For a moment, Dale was mad at Joe. If only Joe had made both the free throws—but no, this was Dale’s fault. Dale Howard did nothing with the ball, and looked like an idiot. He could’ve penetrated for a mid-range jumper. He could’ve passed the ball to Mark, their best shooter, who was wide open. Instead, Dale Howard dribbled out the clock, forcing his team into overtime where they lost the game four and the playoff series. Read more →

April was amused that I was going to write about coffee for a local magazine.

“You don’t drink coffee,” she said.

“I’m not a burlesque dancer either,” I said, “but I wrote a feature about one.”

If you’re curious what a non-coffee drinker would have to say about coffee, my cover story “How a team of experts taught me to tolerate coffee” is now available in the winter issue of Edible DFW Magazine.

I would recommend finding a print version of the magazine. It’s widely distributed throughout North Texas (click here to find a copy near you).

I like Edible. The magazine is well-designed with some beautiful photography. They also have a great publisher in Nanci Taylor and a great editor in Terri Taylor–and great people are nice to work with. They seem to like me, so I should be writing more for Edible soon.

The story…

I’ve never understood the appeal. The times I sampled coffee, all I tasted was hot and bitter. My face contorts, my teeth grit, and I involuntarily convulse. My distaste puts me in the minority opinion. It’s more than just a drink. I get that. Coffee’s a ritual, an emotional holistic experience. It’s the most traded commodity in the world, second only to oil.

I’m convinced I just haven’t had the right guidance and the ideal cup of coffee. So, over the course of a week, I met with coffee experts in Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth to educate me on the coffee experience, to see if I could be converted. My education started, appropriately enough, with a school. Continue Reading…

I wrote a story for the Arlington Beat. I’m that cranky old man, shaking his cane at the system–or in this case, two non-intersection crosswalks near Arlington High School.

I’ve repeatedly told my daughter to be cautious while crossing the street. Look both ways. Look again, and then maybe again, just to be sure. “Better yet. Wait for me, and we’ll cross together.” We live on a busy residential street, and I have nightmares of some car whipping around the corner.

Busy streets make parents worry. Without us to hold our child’s hands, we hope they use common sense. We trust that drivers pay attention, and that roads are appropriately marked for the benefit of both car and kid.

I admit the crosswalks near Arlington High School make me uneasy. Continue Reading…

The November issue of D Magazine is now available. If you turn to page 37, you’ll see my story about Noah Jeppson (or you could just read it online).

On a Friday morning in late September, Noah Jeppson stands at the corner of Main and Ervay streets downtown, waiting for the light to change, loaded down with three bags. The volunteers who were supposed to help him at Parking Day Dallas did not show, forcing Jeppson to scramble to post fliers. A few weeks ago, he sprained his ankle on some uneven pavement while walking his dog. He only recently ditched his crutches. Now he’s wearing a pair of Asics sneakers, and he has a busy day ahead. Continue Reading…

Click here to listen to the full hour of Fanboy Radio’s Indie Show with Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson

I first met Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson in January at the In[k]dependent: Comic and Zine Art discussion panel. They were such tremendously interesting and talented people that I had to invite them on Fanboy Radio. For one hour, we discussed art, comics, UFOs, childhood influences, and the beauty of a stuffed bobcat–all in all, probably one of my favorite Indie Shows.

Listen for yourself: Click here and enjoy.

Hello subscribers! I just sent the October story. It should be waiting in your inbox. I apologize for the delay. I’ve wanted to tell this particular story for years–about a transgender bank robber. I discovered that the hardest stories to write are the ones you care the most about. If you’d like more information on transgender equality, I’d recommend this website: http://transequality.org/

Would you like to read this story and you’re not a member? For only $10, you too can join. Here’s a preview of this month’s story:

“A Bank and a Blue Floral Dress” by David Hopkins

My husband Mark has wanted three things in his life—my undying love, to rob a bank, and a particular blue floral dress from Neiman Marcus.

Let’s start with the dress.

When Mark was five years old, his mother took him to Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. Mark sat with his mother in the changing room, while she tried on an outfit for an interview. At precisely the right moment, his mother’s changing room door opened and another changing room door opened across the hallway. He saw a beautiful petite blonde trying on a blue floral dress. The woman was observing herself in the mirror, shifting her weight from one side to the other. The sight excited him in a strange and new way. An electric pulse that penetrated him so deeply, he didn’t quite know what to make of it. He didn’t want this girl. He wanted to be this girl. Delicate, lovely, and perfect. He understood a clear distinction and dared not share his desire with anyone, not his mother or father or closest friends. Read more →

The October issue of D Magazine is now available. It’s the “Best Doctors” issue, and we all love good doctors. Make sure to pick up an issue or two. Heck, by now, you should save yourself some money and just subscribe already. Magazine subscriptions are fun, and you need a little more Dallas in your life.

For this issue, I wrote a profile on Mark Walters, the co-founder of Dallas Comic Con and man behind Bigfanboy.com. We spent a good hour at Quizno’s, talking about life, love, fan culture, comics, and conventions. The story features amazing photography by Elizabeth Lavin (she also shot the Bad Kids Go To Hell, Downtown Arlington, Six Flags Mall, and Tammi True stories). So, check it out: Leader of the Geeks.

Note: I did not write the subhead “set phasers to fun.” I hear that the National Magazine Awards has a category for “most cheesy wordplay in a headline or subhead.” D Magazine is hungry for a return visit, and the call for entries starts November 1, 2012.