The postal gods were kind (and my publisher made some phone calls). Just confirmed that the Karma Incorporated TPBs arrived at Zeus for today's signing. Much relieved.
Quick DFW featured an article about my book tour. (click here)
Also, my friend Catherine Cuellar spoke to my Creative Writing class. She is the managing editor for Pegasus News, which should be required reading for anyone living in DFW.
UPDATE: Photos from the signing posted on Flickr.
I was reading my comics update on the Publisher's Weekly newsletter and found this bit of information (click here):
The Middleman, a graphic novel published by Viper Comics, is being made into a one-hour pilot for ABC Family. Matt Keeslar and Natalie Morales will star in it. The comic was written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and illustrated by Les McClaine; they story revolves around a struggling artist who is recruited by a secret agent to fight villains.
Congratulations to Javi and Les. This is very cool indeed. I can't wait to see the pilot. Matt Keeslar, who I remember from Art School Confidential, is perfect casting for the title role. Gotta say I'm proud of Viper for sticking with this series. Anyone who has read The Middleman knows it's good, but by some twist of nature the sales never were what they should have been. My opinion. (Do you have all three TPBs? Buy now. Ask questions later.) Hopefully, you who missed the boat will come back and become a fan, like me.
In other updates, The Happy Bullets released a music video for their song The Vice And Virtue Ministry. It features some beautiful animation. The Happy Bullets are in the process of recording a new CD.
Information about Art Conspiracy 3 is now available.
Tomorrow is my signing at Zeus Comics. I'm worried, because the UPS shipment of Karma Incorporated TPBs hasn't arrived. This might suck. Light a candle and pray for the postal gods to come through.
About once or twice a year, I re-design my site. It's that time again. To the best of my knowledge, this will be version 7.0 of Antihero Comics dot com. I still need to fix a few things here and there -- need to check for broken links, update the fonts for the 140+ preview pages. (I do not skimp on content.) Most importantly, I have a friend working on some art for the noticeably vacant right side of this page. Expect the lovely addition sometime in early November. Until then, enjoy the sparseness of it all.
The site is like an empty apartment.
KARMA INCORPORATED Vol. 1 and ASTRONAUT DAD Vol. 1 trade paperbacks are at the printers, soon to be in stores. I've finished the re-write for ASTRONAUT DAD Vol. 2, and I'm more or less finished with KARMA INCORPORATED Vol. 2. As of yesterday, I sent in my second script to D Magazine for SOUVENIR OF DALLAS.
So what's next?
Bolivar.
Illustrated by Diana Nock, BOLIVAR integrates the true story of my grandfather's family during World War II with a fantasy journey into the spirit world of Campeche. My Grandpa David was one of thirteen children. Eight of them served in the war. I did extensive research, collecting old newspaper articles and personal interviews with the people who lived through it all. It's going to be the longest story I've written at just over 200 pages. Diana and I want to release the story as a single graphic novel. However, we need to find the right publisher.
Thank you to the Hastings in Round Rock, their super cool manager David Reamer who organized the signing, and all my friends (and all April's friends) who showed up to lend their support. We raised $103.50 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. My next signing will be at Zeus Comics on October 24th from 4 PM until close.
There's a five page preview of Astronaut Dad on Newsarama. (click here) Any affirmations posted on the forum would be greatly appreciated.
Good news: Brent finished the last page of Astronaut Dad, Volume One! We're getting ready for the printer. Thank you Brent and Justin for all your hard work on this project. Amazing talent. Also, I saw the proof for Karma Incorporated, Volume One. Very excited with how it came together. This will be a great trade paperback. My dear friend Scott Hinze wrote a very kind introduction.
This weekend on Saturday at 6 PM, I will be signing at Hastings Bookstore in Round Rock Texas. All proceeds from the event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Random: Have you seen Josh Boulet's artwork?! (click here) I've been a fan for a long time. Damn. Pick up one of his books.
A quicktime video of my thirty minute presentation from La Reunion Workshop: Scriptwriting for Graphic Novels --
http://antiherocomics.com/media/LaReunion-David.mov
It's a huge file (roughly 171 MB). I'd recommend you "right click" and "save as" to watch it, but either way. Thanks to Luke Hawkins and Hawk Digital Media for recording the event and all the presentations. I received my two disc DVD set in the mail a few days ago, and it came together nicely. I'm especially pleased with how Luke integrated the power point.
Brent Schoonover interviewed on Word Balloon podcast. (click here for Newsarama press release and a four page preview of Astronaut Dad)
Some pages (unlettered) from the upcoming ASTRONAUT DAD Vol. 1 trade paperback, illustrated by Brent Schoonover.
Silent Devil posted their Astronaut Dad page:
http://www.silentdevil.com/astronaut-dad.php
From September through December, comic book writer David Hopkins will be on tour to promote the release of his graphic novels Karma Incorporated and Astronaut Dad. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The tour spans the Fall season, weekends and Wednesdays throughout. Various signings will be at conventions and book stores, starting with the Free State Free Con in Lawrence, Kansas on September 15-16. Other dates include Hastings Bookstore in Round Rock, Texas on October 6th, Zeus Comics in Dallas, Texas on October 24th, Pub Fest at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, Texas on October 27th, Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma on November 14th, Wizard World Texas on November 16th-18th, and Star Clipper in St. Louis, Missouri on December 1st. Other dates will be added as they are available. More information on the website -- http://antiherocomics.com/tour
During the tour, David Hopkins will sell original art and sketches donated by comic book creators. In addition to book sales, all the money raised from the artwork goes directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Already, Ryan Dunlavey (Action Philosophers), Lea Hernandez (Killer Princesses, Rumble Girls, and Texas Steampunk), Jamar Nicholas (Detective Boogaloo), and Mike Hawthorne (Hysteria, Umbra, and Queen & Country) have agreed to donate art. More artists and sponsors are needed.
Karma Incorporated, Vol. 1, published by Viper Comics, and Astronaut Dad, Vol. 1, published by Silent Devil Productions, will be released within a month of each other. David Hopkins wrote both graphic novels, with Karma Incorporated illustrated by Tom Kurzanski (Antigone) and Astronaut Dad illustrated by Brent Schoonover (Horrorwood). The second volume of Karma Incorporated follows later in 2007. "I didn't plan for everything I've been working on for the past few years to come out all at once. It's a little nerve wracking," Hopkins admits. "But hello, here I am. It's a good opportunity to make some noise and raise awareness for something more important than comics."
David Hopkins became interested in Cystic Fibrosis research from meeting a fan with CF at a comic book convention. The idea of doing the tour as a fund raiser started through a friendship with organizers of the Dallas-based Ultraviolet Rock Show, which also benefits CF research.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. Research and care supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is making a huge difference in extending the quality of life for those with CF. However, lives continue to be lost to CF every day. To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit -- http://cff.org
Astronaut Dad featured in Comics Shop News...
I picked up the premiere issue of Comic Foundry. Good Lord, this is a great magazine. Matt Fraction's "How to Make Love to Kieron Gillen" is about the funniest thing I've read. I'm especially fond of step 6: Working through the tears. Seriously, if this magazine can't survive in our industry, then our industry is doomed. Comic Foundry's two closest competitors, Wizard and The Comics Journal, aren't even hitting the same audience. This new magazine is for people who read and enjoy a wide range of comics and graphic novels -- not necessarily limited to the Marvel/DC elitists or the "high art" comic mavens. I've always been a big fan of Tim Leong (CF's editor-in-chief). This guy knows what he's doing. He's a bonafide comic book journalist. So congrats, Tim, I can't say enough about CF.
Astronaut Dad is ready for pre-order. Not only has it been featured in Comic Shop News (image coming soon), but it's also a Spotlight Item for the Previews catalog. We're doing good.
Order code: SEP07 3931
ASTRONAUT DAD VOL 1 GN
SRP: $5.95
Starting with the October '07 issue for D Magazine, Paul Milligan and I have a semi-monthly full page comics feature called "Souvenir of Dallas."
In the first installment, we cover the opening of a new restaurant. Mischief ensues. This is going to be fun. (click here for more info)
Many of you have already read the news (click here). I looked up to Mike. He was an amazing artist, and just an incredible person. Friendly and open. He supported so many people in small press publishing. We loved him. No one better.
Don't know what else to say.
My friend and Emily Edison collaborator, Brock Rizy finished shooting his film Bike_Gang Congratulations. Now he has to do the animation over the live action. I can't wait to see it. Check out the photos on the official website. If you are considerably wealthy, they still need money to get it produced and distributed. Pay up!
Some upcoming conventions/store signings for the release of the Karma Incorporated and Astronaut Dad graphic novels:
September 15th - 16th
Free State FreeCon Comic Book & Toy Convention in Lawrence, Kansas (website)
October 6th at 6 PM
Hastings in Round Rock, Texas (website)
October 24th
Zeus Comics and Toys in Dallas, Texas (website)
October 27th
Pub Fest at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, Texas (website)
November 14th
Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma (website)
November 16th - 18th
Wizard World Texas in Arlington, Texas (website)
It's shaping into a nice little book tour. I'd like to do more out of state, but it's difficult to take off during the school year. Anybody at Strange Adventures want to fly me, plus a friend, to Nova Scotia Canada? How about Rocketship in Brooklyn? Star Clipper in St. Louis?
A difficult photo set of a young girl on the ledge of a 23 story building in Dallas. She was planning to jump, but ultimately decided against it. Is it exploitive? Is it journalism? Regardless, I find it very humbling as a witness. Whoever you are, I hope things are better.
New Wes Anderson movie!
The Darjeeling Limited
If all the filmmakers in the world were trapped in a burning building, Wes Anderson would be the only one I'd save. This film looks like a nice progression in what has become his trademark eye-candy style. Adrien Brody is a good addition to usual cast -- especially if you've seen him in Dummy (a sorely under appreciated film). You know he fits the "Wes Anderson mold." And that's not a bad thing.
Also, Rocket Science and Dedication look really good -- and something new from the Coen Brothers! I can't wait for the summer mega-movie season to crawl back into its hole, so we can get back to quality storytelling.
MISCELLANY: I set up an account with Yelp. Planning to post my first review this afternoon.
