NOT RUBY

Some of you might know, for the past four years, I've been doing research for a possible graphic novel about Jack Ruby (preview here). I've read numerous books and articles about him, listened to audio, watched several bits of video, analyzed photos, documentaries. I've walked about Dallas, visiting the places where he's been. Better than most people, I know Jack Ruby.

Recently, Dallas Morning News reported that County District Attorney Craig Watkins revealed documents related to the assassination of Kennedy, found in a little-known vault in his office (click to read the full story). The juiciest document is a transcript of an alleged conversation between Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald. A conversation that apparently took place at the Carousel Club. The transcript is a "smoking gun" that suggests (a) Ruby is involved with the Mafia (b) Ruby contracted Oswald to kill the President (c) They did this to get at the Attorney General, i.e. Robert Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy. Apparently, it's easier to assassinate the President than the Attorney General.

I've read the transcript. I promise it's a complete fake. This so-called conversation does not sound like Ruby. It doesn't pace like how Ruby talks. It doesn't use Ruby's vocabulary, or have his personality. It reads like bad crime noir fiction. Besides, Ruby's involvement with the Mafia is HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY unlikely. He simply wouldn't be trustworthy as an Mafia operative. All available evidence shows that he liked the President. He was more fixated with other matters at that time in his professional life. This is not Jack Ruby.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. Instead, I side with Darnay Hoffman: Ruby's dog disproves any and all conspiracies. Not kidding.

FIRST! WELCOME TO ANTIHERO COMICS

I read an interview with one of my favorite writers Charlie Kaufmann. It's available on the WGA site here. If you are a writer, you need to pay your respects to the Writer's Guild of America. Comic book writers need something. The Insight is moving along nicely with the new artist. I've seen some of his panel layouts, rough drawings, and character sketches. It all looks amazing. I feel confident about the script, but the art alone will sell this comic. I'm so fortunate to be working with such talented people.

Speaking of talented people, Brian Childers has begun some conceptual drawings for a possible sci-fi comic we'll collaborate on. He's creating the world. I'm writing the story within this world. This project will really challenge me. Sci-fi seems like such a difficult genre to do well, because all the primary motifs and settings have been done over and over again. I mean, how many times can you re-tell Bladerunner?

Astronaut Dad. Right now, an artist is looking at the script to see if he's interested. I can't tell you who it is yet. But I will say this, he's one of my favorite comic book artists. And he's done some stuff you might be familiar with.

I'm also working through some ideas for a children's mini-comic. Plus, research for my Jack Ruby graphic novel has begun. Jim Lujan, you can't stop holding your breath now.

Still coming off my high from the San Diego Comic-Con. I have photos posted here.

Upcoming conventions:

October 24-26, 2003 --- Dallas Comic Con

November 21-23, 2003 --- Wizard World Arlington

April 3-4, 2004 --- Dallas Comic Con

July 9-11, 2004 --- Sci-Fi Expo

July 22-25, 2004 --- San Diego Comic Con

For those interested, we have several mini-CDROMs leftover from the Comic Con. They contain the complete scripts for The Insight (an earlier draft) and Astronaut Dad. Send me an e-mail and I'll mail one to you.