GONE SOUTH

For those going to San Diego, Guy LeMay will be in the small press area with Atomic Basement premiering Gone South #3. You should check it out.

Guy and I worked on the Dead@17:Rough Cut story "The Sparrow". Very talented artist.

MR. H STRIKES AGAIN

Everything has been approved. Next year, I will be teaching a creative writing class for my high school. I've got some great ideas. This will be fun.

JUST A REMINDER

Western Tales of Terror #2 hits stores today. My short story "The Stranger Waits For Me" is featured in this anthology. Make sure to pick up a copy at your local comic book retailer. Don't know where your closest comic book shop is? Check here.

I'll try to post an audio commentary for "The Stranger Waits For Me" sometime soon.

YOUNG UP AND COMERS

My name was briefly mentioned on CBR this week in an interview with publisher Josh Fialkov.

"To the submissions, we've actually made it a point to try to help out young up and comers, much in the way some of our pro's are helping us out. We've made a point to introduce new writers and artists to the world, and we've also made a point in only bringing the best of the best. Thus far, we've introduced Jay Busbee and Jared Bivens into the industry, and David Hopkins and Ben Hall (who've also done work for Viper and Silent Devil). To give guys with limited resumes but loads of talent a chance to be published alongside huge name guys is the sort of opportunity I always salivated over, and it's a true honor to be able to do it for them."

Speaking of, Western Tales of Terror #2 will be stores next Wednesday! I feel good about this short story. If you have the opportunity, pick up a copy.

PEPPER SPRAY

Two Pepper Sprayed Over Phone Call At Fla. Movie Pair Arrested At Theater

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- A college student who took a cell phone call from her mother in a movie theater was pepper sprayed by an officer and charged with disorderly conduct, along with her boyfriend.

Warronnica Harris, 23, was at the Muvico theater at BayWalk Saturday night, watching the opening credits to Catwoman when her cell phone rang.

"It was my mom calling me," Harris said. "It was a family emergency."

Harris said she spoke so quietly that her mother couldn't hear her. Then Officer John Douglas shone a flashlight in her eyes.

He asked Harris and her boyfriend, Terrell "KC" Tolson, 25, to leave. He pushed Harris in the hallway, then pepper sprayed both of them in the lobby, the couple said. Neither Harris nor Tolson has a criminal record.

Police denied their account, saying Harris refused to end her cell phone conversation, yelled at the Douglas and refused to leave the theater. Her boyfriend also refused to leave and threatened the officer, police said.

Witnesses said the pair did nothing wrong.

Marcia Gray, a 49-year-old Tampa accountant, was in the lobby when the couple were pepper sprayed.

"The man turned and asked the officer why he was making them leave and the cop just maced him in the face," Gray said. "They weren't yelling or touching him. The man bent over and the girl asked why he maced her boyfriend. Then the cop maced her, and she dropped her soda."

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more info from http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/28/Southpinellas/Police__Belligerence_.shtml
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BASTARD

An e-mail from my friend Greg:

You bastard!!!

I've been loyally buying comics from Lone Star for the last 4-5 years and have yet to win that damn back issue contest. So, guess who's name I saw today as the SW Arlington store winner...

DAVID HOPKINS!!!

So unfair.

PERSEPOLIS

Marjane Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

YOUNG AMERICAN COMIC BOOK WRITER

Antihero Comics now has a store with Cafe Press. Today, I've been scanning photos and designing logos for the Cafe Press store. Check back often in the next month as I will keep adding more unique products. After the base price, I put the price as low as possible. Reason? I want to get the merchandise out there to the folks who support me and my writing. Make sure to tell others. I especially like the "young american comic book writer" poster-- photograph by my wife Melissa. What? Doesn't everyone want a poster of me?!

CAFE PRESS

I think I may create an Antihero Comics store through Cafe Press. Not that I think the masses are begging for antihero merchandise, but heck, I'd like t-shirt. I'll have to start working through some ideas. All suggestions are encouraged. I'm currently scripting a one shot mini-comic. So far, so good. Maybe I could create two versions? One I will print myself and sell to the stores and local conventions. The other version could be with Cafe Press's print-on-demand section. I don't know yet-- just stuff I'm thinking about.

LOOKING OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUY

The remarkable Sean Clement started a website called Diverging Comics. The site looks really good. I highly recommend it. Some of my buds at the fanboy radio forum have written reviews for Diverging Comics. Lots of websites promote the "big two" (Marvel and DC). We need more people looking out for the little guy. Thanks Sean!

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.