"Out with the old, in with the NEW!"

Greetings SURFACEDWELLERS,

2010 is almost history as we find ourselves near the end of another year on the planet-and man did it blow by fast!

It was a somewhat productive year for me professionally as I finally started on my first creator owned project; "KUDU-MAN!" I was a "no show" on the con circuit this year but not from lack of trying, the one convention I had reserved a table at was cancelled-a sign of the tough times that everyone is having nowadays with this brutal recession. I relunctantly went back to an old job of mine which has, thus far, worked out...hey steady income is welcome no matter the source unless illegal that is....it was time to swallow some pride and start catching up on some debts.

Creatively I started developing some additional projects, some of which were long standing ideas that had been festering in my limited imagination for quite some time (more on those at a later date). 2011 will be a big year for me as far as the con seen goes, and hopefully a successful one too as I begin to heavily promote "KUDU-MAN!" throughout this great land of ours both through the con circuit and on the internet, for my ultimate goal is to not only have people in America dig him and what hes about but people all around the world too-and that will take a lot of work and luck combined. I have set up my first con appearance for next year; the Orlando MegaCon (March 25th-27th, 2011). MegaCon is one of the largest conventions in the south and still one of the most affordable and this year it will be special for me cause it will mark the first official appearance of my debut creation in the comics world..."KUDU-MAN!"

Issue #1 will be available on my table at the convention and I fully plan on not being shy about that fact-with additional advertising and a high visible profile at the upcoming cons I should be easy to find.

With the addition of KM's release he will have an official website launched (early next year) and my own website; http://www.surfaceartstudios.com/ will get a long needed update and new look, both of which will be announced vigorously on the world wide web...so stay tuned for future announcements from me and the "House of the Dragon".

-peace ;)

Movie Review; "Scott Pilgrim vs the World"

Greetings "Surfacedwellers",

Haven't posted anything much lately, been busy do the the everyday living life thing not to mention work, art stuff, and unfortunately general laziness. This time instead of regailing you with the usual slow development of all things from the "house of the Dragon" I will entertain you with a movie review.

I know this film came out a while back (in fact the movie comes to video in October) but it was one of the more recent films I've watched so here goes... ""Scott Pilgrim vs the World" is another film adaptation based on a graphic novel or should I say a collection of graphic novels created by Bryan Lee O'Malley and it chronicles the mirthless mis-adventures of everyday life of yes, you guessed it; Scott Pilgrim! Pilgrim is a young twentysomething clueless layabout who when not practicing with his garage band friends ("Sex Bob-omb") is pretty much a "tool", using girls and being a general ass...then one fateful day, he meets the girl of his dreams; Ramona Flowers. Unbeknownst to Mr. Pilgrim his new love comes with some serious baggage in the form of seven evil exes who are out to disrupt any chance of Ramona establishing a normal relationship...Pilgrim finds this out all too soon-painfully!

I have yet to read the novels but I kinda liked the film-I know that's not exactly a ringing endorsement but it wasn't meant to be. The movie has a distinctive look and flavor to it aimed at the gamer/alternative music/comic set and it has a powerful soundtrack featuring music by Beck and Black Sheep among others. The film was produced and directed by Edgar Wright(Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz) and done well- a good flow of energy only suffering minor slow spots in a few places. The cast was effective and with the aid of a well written script(Michael Bacall/Edgar Wright) they perform convincingly. The cast includes; Ellen Wong, Keiran Culkin, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill,Brie Larson, Chris Evans and last but not least Michael Cera(Juno) as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead(Live Free-Die Hard)as the object of his obsession Ramona.

There are all sorts of films out there to check out, and you do not always have to like the serious epic classics or more introspective intelligent thought provoking stories, sometimes it's good just to take a break and watch a good funny, kinda stupid film and I guess that's the best way I can describe "Scott Pilgrim vs the World". It's a simple romantic fantasy/comedy with a message that isn't being banged over your skull like Donkey Kong...Hey it's not "Ben-Hur" or "Inception" for that matter but it is in my opinion an enjoyable little escape from the everyday crapola we are constantly subjected to in the real world...and that what movies are really all about-right? :)

end of August...ALREADY?

DAMN!, How time flies!

September is fastly approaching (September 3 is my birthday "hint,hint") and boy did it sneek up on me, been busy working my ass off at both jobs and snoozing when I can on the down time, that's not when I'm not on WoW("World of Warcraft"). Yes it's official, I have become yet another brainwashed Warcraft "zombie", well not totally brainwashed...I'm on the 10 day free trial thing to test it out.

It's ok for another avenue of escapism, when I'm not watching films or doing the art but I do not see myself getting addicted to it like so many others I've heard of, granted I do not have much of a personal life, but I do like to get out and hug the trees and hear the birds sing every once in a while ;)

Art update; Just finished the pencils and inks on a cover of the sci-fi maxi series "Super-7" for creator Robert Wawrzyniak (art pictured above), it will be colored by artist Scott Shoemaker. Just finished a couple of commissions for some clients plus a company logo and title design for a local business.

My work on "KUDU-MAN!" is going slow at the moment due to other jobs, so a Fall release will be out of the question at this point, so I am now concentrating on premeiring the book at next years MegaCon here in Orlando, that and some promo spots and book signings will hopefully be a good start for me and my first creator owned project...I'll keep all you "SURFACEDWELLERS" updated on all new developments pertaining to this and all other projects coming from the "house of the Dragon".

It's that time of year again...yep football season has started, the little crazed fan inside me has just two words for ya..."GO STEELERS!!!!!!"

-till next time sports fans, peace ;)