HAPPY BULLETS AND COMIC BOOKS

I heard from Josh McKibben that our mini-comic (THE HAPPY BULLETS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAVID HOPKINS AND DAVID DEGRAND PRESENT AN ILLUSTRATED COMPANION PAMPHLET FOR THE ALBUM HYDROPANIC AT THE NATATORIUM. ENJOY.) has returned from the printers, and it looks good. It's a limited print run of 100 copies. If you want one, the Happy Bullets will have them for sale at their shows to coincide with the release of their new album. Here's where you can find the Happy Bullets next week: Thursday, April 15th at 8 PM - Vinyl Release In-Store at Good Records Saturday, April 17th at 8 PM - Release Party at the Doublewide with Red Monroe and Giggle Party

Zeus Comics and Titan Comics should have a few copies available.

David DeGrand and I are planning to be at the show on the 17th. It would be great to see you (yes, you) there.

LOADS OF LOCAL COMICS

It's a good week when my comics for D Magazine and Quick both hit at approximately the same time. The next four installments of WE'VE NEVER MET deal with Austin, SXSW, NX35, and the personalities of the various cities in Texas. It's my opportunity to pick on our neighbors a bit. All in good fun, of course. Best of all, we get some quality time with Liz and her band (still unnamed). Since the comic posts every other week, it's tricky to make each one "self contained" and still try to continue a larger story. I have to resist the urge to move too fast with what I want to develop. I could write WE'VE NEVER MET for as long as Quick and Chad Thomas are willing to tolerate me.

The March issue of D Magazine features a new SOUVENIR OF DALLAS (click here). This one was a real challenge. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had to interview everyone and get the quotes. Mike Snider at AllGood was such a nice guy. I could've talked with him for an hour. Pete Zotos of St. Pete's Dancing Marlin returned my call while he was at a Cowboys game! It was a short conversation, but I appreciate his effort. Tim Frazin, owner of Zini's Pizzeria, was a fortunate last minute interview. I was roaming the streets of Deep Ellum at night trying to find a third restaurant after my other interview never materialized. I saw Zini's was open. Tim was there. We had a good conversation. He's a cool guy. In fact, Zini's is also seen in WE'VE NEVER MET. They might become the official pizza of my comics -- like Duff Beer in the Simpson's, but real. Paul Milligan did a great job as always with a script that wasn't the easiest to work with.

Speaking of difficult scripts, David DeGrand finished the first page of our Happy Bullets mini-comic (the song: "F--k Yeah, I'm In Love With You"). It looks great. I went overboard with these scripts. Working with DeGrand and the Happy Bullets lyrics, it's hard not to get a little weird. In fact, "Lead Balloon" might be one of the best comics I've ever written. No words and pitch perfect. No pressure, DeGrand.

In case anyone missed the tweet, Brock Rizy and I finalized our proposal for EMILY EDISON AND THE END OF THE WORLD. http://twitpic.com/156bin

And one more thing I'm excited about, the talented Chris Medellin has launched his webcomic for Roam. Bookmark it. Seriously good work.

MY NEXT MINI-COMIC PROJECT

When your favorite local band has a new album coming out and they ask if you'd like to put together a 'zine to accompany the project, you say "yes." And then, you take the 'zine idea from them and run with it. That's just common sense. If such an opportunity presents itself, you also ask David Degrand to illustrate it. Obviously. It will be another two months before it's available, but here's the wrap-around cover:

Yes, the entire title is: THE HAPPY BULLETS IN ASSOCIATION WITH DAVID HOPKINS AND DAVID DEGRAND PRESENT AN ILLUSTRATED COMPANION PAMPHLET FOR THE ALBUM HYDROPANIC AT THE NATATORIUM. ENJOY.

I checked. You can't twitter the whole title, 22 characters too many.

The booklet will be 12 pages long. It will include six comics based on songs from "Hydropanic at the Natatorium," three essays, and some band interviews. I'll post more information (release dates, etc.) whenever I have it.

MISCELLANY

Karma Incorporated pin-up (below) by Cal Slayton. Make sure to visit Cal's blog, and check out the super cool Spookytown art.


New headshot of me, taken by Carissa Byers, for the La Reunion website:
photo 1 | photo 2

This Friday, I'm going to The Door in Dallas. My friend Heather Daniel released a new CD. Congrats Heather. We were friends in high school, and I think she may have been one of the few, rare, precious fans of my ill-fated band Cosmo Monkhaus -- and a spiffy person in general.

Then on Saturday, I'm going to Lee Harvey's to see The Happy Bullets (1807 Gould Street, Dallas TX 75215, music from 8:30 PM to 12 AM). It's going to be their last show for awhile, as they are about to start work on recording a new album.