"HARD TIMES!"

NO, I'm not talking about the classic Charles Bronson / James Coburn movie of the same name....I'm talkin about the real world here people.
It's been a tough and rough Summer for me and the studios, normally I would be at a regular output on the creative end of things especially my titles that I have been developing but being unemployed for most of the Summer with the occasionally spotty Job pick up left me in a financially stressful position so to say that my creative juices were not flowing due to this distraction is putting it lightly. I learned first hand how hard it is to get a job, even one with some experience such as myself. I'm not a young man anymore as I quickly found out and it was tricky at times keeping up with some of my teenage co-workers at some workplaces but I persevered and hung in there...I stuck it out. Still got way behind in bills and rent to the point where it was beginning to look bleak, it was times such as these that I was silently thankful for not having a family to provide for, granted it is a bit of a lonely life at times but better for me to suffer hardships than to subject a family to it...that I could not bare.
But flash forward to the present, I currently have a full time, well paying job whereas the security situation is still not totally satisfactory to me, at least I am now caught up with my expenses and am now in the black. Being caught up equals less stress so now I am back to concentrating on my creative works. The end of the year is soon at hand and we'll soon be basking in the warm glow of 2012, a year I see as very important both personally to me and especially professionally as an artist. 2012 will see the first of my creator owned properties debut...the long awaited / delayed "KUDU MAN". Issue #1 is slated for a Summer/2012 release through my Peacenik Press imprint.
Soon other creations of mine will appear in book form and GOD willing they will be received well...I will update you on any progress on these titles as they develop till then my loyal "SURFACEDWELLERS", take heed and be thankful for what you have in life for it can all disappear in but an instant.
Till next time....Peace ;)

FORGET "STAR WARS"!

Greetings "SURFACEDWELLERS",
Hard to believe that June is already upon us, kids are out of school, Summer is in session, and the annual blockbuster season has begun in theatres nationwide....oh and the "Ultimate-7" has finally arrived in our solar system!
The 12 issue science fiction maxi series created and written by author Robert Wawrzyniak and drawn by me and artist Scott Shoemaker finally hits the pre-order scene with the June issue of the "PREVIEWS" catalog. Wawrzyniak's labor of love was a life long project, almost ten years in the making, a tale of high adventure in interstellar space, rife with amazing alien races of all types, epic space battles, and a universe full of exotic worlds all at the simple turn of the page.
Joining us on this amazing sci-fi adventure is a virtual "whos who" in the comic biz; artists like; Greg Horn, Mike Ploog, Skottie Young, Steve Sanchez, Billy Tucci, Simon Bisley, Mike Mayhew, and Ken Kelly just to name a few who've provided some stunning artworks for our covers. Like I mentioned the current June issue of PREVIEWS is in comic stores everywhere-look for our full page advertisement about the series...
The first issue comes out in stores this August, we invite you to join in on the adventure that promises to be as big as the cosmos itself. To find out more about "the Ultimate-7", the characters and the people behind the scenes just visit the official Ultimate-7 website at; http://www.theultimate7.com As part of the promotional campaign there will be online interviews, internet and print advertising and general spot information articles about the series and it's creators.
We hope that you will join us...Peace :)

FCBD; the day after...

Well its the morning after and to be honest I had a rather enjoyable day as a guest artist at a FCBD event. I was joined by another artist and designer, Richard Livingston (Battlestar Gallactica) was also there along with the guys of D&B Comics. The crowd wasn't as huge as it would have been were it at a comics store but it was ok. The staff of the Alafaya Library were very kind and courteous and provided enough work space for us.
A lot more kids than I thought turned up, and this was a library on a Saturday, so it was kind of refreshing to see that kids are still visiting the library system these days what with video games and computers ruling the world now. I was on hand to meet and greet, show some of my artwork off, educated a little along the way showing the pages of comic art before they are shrunk down to print proportions. Had a video interview conducted by a gentleman starting off his vid series on youtube-(will post a link once its up).
I also did free sketches for anybody that wanted one, did quite a few actually for the children who were initially a little shy about the whole thing and with Superman and Batgirl walking around to distract them. One little girl was actually kind enough to draw me a sketch in crayon-so we traded art for art...so all in all a pretty good day.
Afterwards despite being a bit tired we all went and watched "THOR" at the nearby cinema, it was also good.

I might do this on a regular basis from now on if the invites keep coming...we'll see.
Peace,

FREE Comic Book Day...

Been a while since I posted so here goes...
As always, been busy putting my debut issue of "KUDU MAN" together, so far things are shaping up good for an August/2011 release...also writing out the details of the next three issues-completing the first storyarc. Have taken on some additional projects, one with a holiday flavor-a one shot special called "CLAUSPIONAGE" written and created by Jon Bryans, it will be distributed through APE Entertainment and should be out by this holiday season.
I've also begun development on yet another story idea, one for all ages although it will contain some mature themes...All I can say about it now is that it's simply called "Mandi" and that it will be a bit of a departure for me in style and subject matter...more details to come on this.
May 7th is the annual four color event; FREE COMIC BOOK day and yours truly will actually be making a rare appearance as a guest artist/creator here in central Florida...I'll be at the Alafaya branch of the Orange county Library (12000 E.Colonial Dr./Orlando) from 10am-2pm. I'll be there to further enlighten the kiddies to the wonderful world of comic literature and art, there will also be sketches and prints available...not to mention free comics...so I hope to see some of you there. :)
Till next time "surfacedwellers", stay cool and have a nice holiday weekend....Peace.

Miami Vice...

Just returned from Miami and the Wizard World Miami comicon, it's first appearance in the sunshine state and the first time I ever attended a con in Miami. All in all I had a pretty good time there, nice people, more kids than I was expecting but thats a good thing ,nice to see younger generations interested in the comics genre(some were even dressed up). I took a few pics ,will post them soon... Didn't really draw many sketches over the two days, but sold some prints and a few books. Met up with some fellow creators and some old friends from the circuit; Dirk Strangely, Javier Lugo, Manny Aguilera,Scott Blair, Cayce Moyer, Tommy Castillo and Mike Maihack creator of "Cleopatra in Spaaaace!", a cute little sci-fi book with an Egyptian twist...I highly reccomend it.
Special thanks to Amina Cush who was kind enough to invite me down along with many other artists who otherwise may not have been able to afford to attend. Was a nice little con and will have to seriously consider attending next year...if the price is right.

**Next stop; Orlando MegaCon (March 25,26,27), hope to see some of you there....

A Tale of "Two Grits"! a movie review.

Greeting SURFACEDWELLERS,
"HAPPY NEW YEAR" and welcome to the dark mysterious place known as "SURFACEWORLD" of which I am a lifelong resident. This is my first film review of 2011 so sit back warm up that stale ass popcorn and pop open a flat soda as I tell you a blood curdling tale of "two Grits".
A good friend of mine (Mr. Vince Vinson/friend/collaborator/webmaster) surprised me one day and gave me a present, a copy of the new 2010 version of "True Grit" based on the classic 1968 book by Charles Portis. I have been a longtime fan of the Coen Bros.(Joel & Ethan) since I saw their film "Raising Arizona" and have followed their careers and films since then. I think they are one of the most original creative teams in the film business today, films like "Arizona", "Hudsucker Proxy", and their two academy award winners "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men" have challenged the norm and depicted some of the more eccentric and quirky aspects of the Human animal.
Their latest endeavor-a retelling of "True Grit" starring Jeff Bridges("the Big Lewbowski"), Matt Damon("the Bourne Identity") and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is again a well filmed and well scripted story ,my major problem with it though is that it is not an original Coen Bros. film. Paramount who put out the picture for some bizarre unexplained reason decided to greenlight the remake of a classic and popular film, yes ,Hard to believe I know but as scary as that sounds there are actually a good majority of the movie going public who are not aware of the original 1969 version starring the legendary John Wayne as "Rooster Cogburn" and directed by the late great Henry Hathaway. The original film was a huge hit and has become a classic over the years and it was an academy award winner(John Wayne garnered his only Oscar win for the film)to boot. With all due respect to the film makers and cast of the new film I feel this was a highly unnecessary remake and it still boggles the mind on why they did it to begin with. I have read some reviews and people are just falling over themselves with accolades about it and the performances...I just can't bring myself to agree with them. Granted I am a tad biased cause I am a fan of "the Dukes'" and his films-but as a fan and somewhat of an amateur authority on cinema I have to say that this was a waste of film talent(writing, acting, and directing)and should not have been made...PERIOD!
I am aware that "Hollyweird" is starving for product and has been for some time and is currently obsessed with remakes and making films based on video games, comic books etc...but c'mon people do your damn homework! You want to remake a film, great, find a sucky old film property and improve upon it, don't remake a past hit and have it pale in comparison to it's original incarnation.
For those younger than myself "True Grit" tells the story of a precocious little 14 year old named Mattie Ross(Stanfeld{2010}/Kim Darby{1969}) who is looking for justice for her father who was gunned down in cold blood by a work hand, Tom Chaney(Josh Bolin{2010}/Jeff Corey{1969}).In her pursuit of said justice she hires the services of one Marshall Reuben J.Cogburn(Bridges{2010}/John Wayne{1969}),a gruff overweight, liquor swilling federal Marshall to hunt down the killer.In the end they get their man but not without sacrifice. Its a good story and was a good entertaining film...back in 1969!
Some of the performances in this new version are sorely lacking compared to the original; the parts that stand out the most for me are the characters of Texas Ranger LeBeouff(Matt Damon{2010}/Glenn Campbell{1969}) and the ruthless gang leader "Lucky" Ned Pepper(Barry Pepper{2010}/Robert Duvall{1969}),and last but by no means least Tom Chaney(Josh Brolin{2010}/Jeff Corey{1969})in my opinion Damon and especially Pepper didn't have their hearts in their work...and Brolin was just inconsequential and un-interesting, pretty bad when you are the main villain of the story. I have watched both films(the 69' version several times- and the better version by far) and am regretting it-just glad that I didn't pay a ticket price to see the new 2010 version cause in all honesty it was a waste of time...do yourself a favor, watch the superior 1969 version instead with John Wayne...you won't be sorry..."pilgrim". ;)