2019 was a very busy year!

So, it occurs to me that not only have I not posted here in a bit, but that I've actually been quite busy over the past several months, and the probability exist that I have been remiss about informing all'y'all about what I've been up to during the past year or so.

So, to rectify, I’ve decided to take a few moments and bring all'y'all up to speed on what I’ve been doing.
I suppose that at the top of the list, I’ve been posting movie and comic reviews over at HubPages. You should head over there and sign up to subscribe and receive regular updates as to what I find cool enough to write about.

Some of the film reviews (those dealing with monsters and creatures of the night), tend to wind up over on the We Love Monsters Facebook page as well as in their print editions(s).

As far as comicbook writing goes, I want to start back in 2018 (actually) with the inclusion of my short story Birds of Prey in the Wunderfunders anthology Memorial, The Great War Centennial Anthology The book was published for the 100^th anniversary of the first World War (The war to end all wars).

My short story told the tale of an American who witnessed both the initial flights of Gustave Whitehead and the Wright Brothers, then went off to England to help in the war effort over there prior to the U.S. entering the war. His story (briefly) documents the use of airplanes in the war effort.

My story was penciled by Greg Kimmet, inked by Dustin Pageloff, colored by Melissa Compton, and lettered by Jason Sylvestree, with the splash page colored by Christopher Geary.

Memorial is a sequential art anthology to commemorate those who fought and fell in the course of the first world war, and to benefit the children of the world caught up in the wars still being fought. All proceeds from the book will be donated to Warchild UK.

Next up (in 20190), I was invited by Ramon Gil to participate in a Kickstarter anthology project of his, by writing a short science fiction story (which Ramon then illustrated) for this wonderful SciFies Anthology. My story had kind of a fun twist to it, one which I believe came out very well.

I had previously worked with Ramon on a one-page story for a Phrases to Pages story for Pronto Comics, as well as having contributed the introduction to his first SciFies collection.

Working with Ramon, is always a pleasure (He has also invited me to attend his FIT Diversity Con in NYC on two occasions.)

This was followed by a short Halloween story that I penned for InDELLible Comics’ Tales from the Tomb anthology (The Witch and the Wolf, illustrated by the ever amazing Carl Morgans). InDELLible is comprised of a consortium of writers and artist who have taken it upon themselves to revive the (now Public Domain) characters of the defunct publisher, Dell Comics.

InDELLible also publishes the Popular Comics anthology (which is now up to issue #3). Issue #4 (due out in 2020) will (hopefully) have short story by me included that stars The Golden Age Owl Girl. Other InDELLible comics include Cartoon Cuties by Rock Baker, The House of Spades (which will contain the third chapter of my Wülf Girlz series), and CrackerJack Funnies which carries a Chanukah story of mine (Home for the Holidays), illustrated by the wicked-talented Carl Morgans.

InDELLible also published (in 2019) an InDELLiprose edition that contained prose stories of these same Dell heroes. That initial edition contained a short story of min featuring the Golden Age Owl Girl entitled Byline. A follow-up prose story with both Owl Girl and The Owl (entitled Hate by any Other Name) will appear in the second edition, due out in 2020.

(As soon as these other stories are available, I’ll be posting links as to where folks can acquire them.) In the mean time, just to keep you interested and to whet your appetite, I'll tease you with just a taste of the amazing artwork by Carl.

While these are the most recent, works that I have penned, there is also a short prose story of mine in the Metahumans vs. the Ultimate Evil entitled Northern Lite from 2016. I do have a couple of other short stories that have been written and are slated for publication; more on those as they come to fruition.

In addition to these stories of mine, I have contributed to some other publications, including two articles in Munster Memories, then there is an old interview of mine that I conducted with Mike Grell that was added to the TwoMorrows book by Dewey Cassell — Mike Grell: Life is Drawing without an Eraser, and of course the two Stan Lee books about drawing superheroes, Stan Lee's How to Draw Superheroes and Stan Lee's Master Class in which I wrote four chapters each (allowing me to say, with no ego, and in my best Chevy Chase voice, “I'm Stan Lee and you're not.”)

Then, not only am I a fairly prolific writer, but I’m something of a one-man production company as well in that I have preform pre-press production and editorial tasks for several clients, including Main Enterprises, Stone Island Comics, Red Anvil/JGM, Glass House Graphics, Macrospasm Studios, Hippy Comix, Big Apple Convention, and others. Some of the many books and magazines on which I have worked appear in the image below.

More to follow as the year progresses...

The Official Index to the Marvel Universe #10

If you hit your local comic shop this Wednesday you will have found The Official Index to the Marvel Universe #10. This is notable because I am contributing to it (have been contributing to the series since issue #2).

While you may not think that this is a big deal (and I’m sure that you do), I am enjoying my run on the title. (Hey, I get to write about my favorite character for the company that owns him, as I write the official history of that character. What could be cooler than that?)

Anyway, the new issue is out, and if you’ve already acquired your copy, and are attending the NY Big Apple/Wizard show this weekend, and run into me, I’ll be happy to autograph it for you.

See you at the show!

Funnybook Friends

So, this past Thursday I went to a funnybook event in the city (NY Comic Cob's “One year out” bowling event) and met up with a bunch of my funnybook friends. While there, not only did my good buddy and artist on Springload & Renegade, Chris Torres, show up (and we chatted about where the characters are going), but Chris laid on me a box of Spidey cereal.

Seriously, he somehow still had his hands on an unopened box of Spider-Man I cereal. Which is really cool, because while I had purchased this cereal at the time (back on ‘01 or so), I never actually kept the box (I know, silly me, eh?)

Anyway, Chris had this box sitting around (yes, unopened),and well, figured that I’d really enjoy it. No, I’m rather certain that I’m not going to eat the cereal, but it is still cool to have.

Anyway, while at the event, I did meet up with a number of other folks, and came away with this very cool giveaway, a book by Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), entitled The Strain (he co-wrote the book with Chuck Hogan). Well, now I have something on my reading list other than funnybooks.

I love these guys at NY Comic Con, as they certainly know how to build a following.

Well, next week is the Big Apple, Wizard show, and I’m also looking forward to that, but I still wnat to see how well those guys do. They have a ways to go to meet up with the bar that has been set pretty high by NY Comic Con.

Enigma Works Comics

One of the artists I met at the recent National comicbook convention was Luke Mierisch. Luke has this great, clean style to his art. I was privileged to score a pair of comics he produced for Enigma Works. One comics — Tall Tales of Non-Fiction — was written by Dean A. Selleck; the second — Papillon Black — was written by Jason Cookingham.

Both comics are done is a very noir-like stark black and white. both show a skill that totally impressed both myself and my editor, Mark Mazz. After Mark arranged the introduction between the both of us, Luke and I spoke for a bit, and I invited him to contribute to my upcoming Agent Unknown graphic Album. I passed along to Luke the three issues of AU that Dell Barras drew for me back in the mid-‘80s.

Luke and I have chatted at length,and I’ve asked (and he’s agreed) to illustrate the new Stacy Anne Duncan story that I’ve written. I have to tell you that this excites me a great deal, as Stacy Anne was one of the original Division agents that I developed, and I have more stories of her that I not only want to tell, I want Luke to illustrate them.

Anyway, if you attend a show, and wander past Luke in Artists’ Ally. Stop at his table and pick up whatever he is selling, you’ll be seriously very happy that you did. I know that I was.

I just flew in from the National
(and boy, are my arms tired!)

Yeah, I know that it is an old gag, but it is one that I do so enjoy. I also enjoyed myself at The National Comicbook Convention. For those of you who don’t know, the National is a three-day show held in NYC and put on by Big Apple Conventions.

I was in on Saturday and Sunday, and split my time between the Comicbook Artists Guild table(s) and the Guild Works Production table. I also spent quite a bit of time visiting several of my other friends and acquaintances at their tables. Chief among these were Melvin Ylagln, Andria Grant, Mark Teixeira (whom I had previously interviewed for Comics Values Annual 2007), Mark Torres and the always lovely Belkis from Comicbook Novice, Mikes Raub and Gold (of ComicMix), and Jeff (One Live Beast).

I met the folks from Dafixer's Hideout who do a great podcast over at their site; Andy Schmidt (The Comics Experience), Mark Bode, Frankie Washington (who is a very pleasant chap from Massachusetts). I also ran into Jeff Rovin (a man I consider to be my mentor as he helped kick-start my career) and Mike Catron (who purchased my very first article and published it in Amazing Heroes #5). I got to spend some quality time w/Mike (he came to dinner with us). The whole thing turned out quite enjoyable for all of us (especially me, because I got to spend time with good friends of mine).

I got to spend time with Matt Ryan (my partner on the Wülf Girlz which will appear in the third issue of Psychosis! #3 — due out in early 2008); and Chris Torris (who is helping me revive Agent Unknown (again to appear in early 2008). There’s more, but I’ll save that for another time. Suffice it to say that I had a real good time.

Oh, the pics in this post are just some of the characters that were wandering around the con.

The Nationals come to NYC!

The Big Apple Convention presents Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Bell, Walter Koenig, Katey Sagal, Neal Adams, more at National Convention NYC, November 16-18!

On November 16-18, the Big Apple National Convention, NYC's longest-running comic book/sci-fi/fantasy/horror/pop culture convention will occur at the Penn Plaza Pavilion, 7th Ave at 33rd St./ This will be it's biggest show ever! Special celebrity guests include Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Bell, Katey Sagal, Walter Koenig, Gigi Edgley, Mira Furlan, Butch Patrick,William Mapother, Soupy Sales, Celeste Holm, Debbie D, King Kong Bundy, Joanna Krupa, Brian Clevinger, Dan “the Beast” Severn, and many, many more from movies, TV, pro wrestling, centerfold models, scream queens, athletes, and more. Over 100 comic book creators will be present including legendary comic book artists Neal Adams, Steranko, Carmine Infantino, Sergio Aragones, Joe Sinnott, along with fan favorites like Adam Hughes, Billy Tucci, Tim Sale, Mark Texeira, and underground creators S. Clay Wilson, Spain, and Mark Bode.

There will be free giveaways, prizes, panel discussions, art seminars, special film showings, performances, the NY Jedi, live action role playing, gaming, and much much more, and of course Captain Zorikh's Costume Contest! Be sure to visit the website for all the details.

Tickets are $18 per day in advance, $20 at the door, $40 for all three days, available through the website.

Spider-Man is here and all is right with the world!

Yes folks, it is Sunday and the new NY Post Spidey Collectible Reprint is in! It sports a great retro-cover of Spidey vs. Electro (seen here at the left), and an awesome newsprint style reprint of the second half of the Lee/Ditko classic story. Man I seriously just can’t get enough of this stuff!

Yesterday, I was at the Big Apple’s 10-year anniversary convention. It was a free-for fans entrance convention, sort of a way for Mike Carbonaro, and Big Apple to say “Thanks” for 10 great years. I was there as were several fellow CAG members. We sold some copies of Psychosis! #1, and got to promote the CAG network. I managed to get some of my own writing done at the con (no small feat, I might add). Plus there was the usual assortment of pros and fans catching up on our mutual lives.

).Oh yeah, I did score a very cool Spidey Fleece blanket that is now in my office (with all the other Spidey stuff. Whelp, that’s about it for now. I hope to have more later on in the week. I’m really hoping to post more regularly to this space, and even have some non-Spidey stuff about which I can chat (like the fact the I’ve just been informed that another one of my stories will be published in Psychosis! #2. How cool is that?

Trolling the Convention Trail

Last weekend (Sunday, November 19, 2006) I went into NYC to attend Big Apple’s humongous comicbook and Sci-Fi show (The National). As usual, I was there representing both Guild Works Productions, and the Comic Artists Guild. I am, you see, the Communications Director for GWP (that’s our comic over there on the right, click the link and go buy a copy). It was a very entertaining show that I attended. Interestingly enough, walking around a convention with a name badge on garners some interesting attention. You see, folks would read my name, recognize it, and then asked me how they know me.

My response is usually the same, “Well I’ve been writing in the fields for quite some time with credits going back to Amazing Heroes, The Comics Journal, Wizard, CBG and elsewhere.” This usually gets a response that they remember my name. Well one of the fellows that I ran into over the weekend (Dan Fogel) was the publisher of an underground price guide, when he realized that I was an editor for an overground price guide (Comics Values Annual) he invited me to join him on the dais for his panel.

Unable to turn down an invitation to pontificate about comics, I accepted. Granted his panel was the last of the day, and there were only something like 15 or 20 folks who attended, it was still both an honor and fun. While at the show, I was (along with GWP Creative Director Mark Mazz and CAG Art Director James Rodriguez, and Rammer Martinez) interviewed by The Horror Channel (hey, I didn’t even know that there was a Horror Channel!) I can’t tell you how cool this was. So, you just know that I’m going to register for and go to the NY Comicbook Con in Feb.

Also While I was at this convention, I ran into my old Marvel Age editor, Jim Salicrup (back when it was an internal Marvel promo mag) — who very generously gifted me with the con sketch that you see here (Jim also works with the Museum of Comic and cartoon art in NYC) — as well as Danny Fingeroth (author of Superman on the Couch — a very fine discussion of superheroes). Of Course my favorite cover artist Melvin Ylagan was also there, as were other CAGers and folks I know. So yeah, I’m really enjoying going to conventions these days.

This past Thursday was Turkey Day, and I spent it at my Brother-In-Law’s place, and he told me that the Spider-Man reprints that are currently running in the NY Post are also appearing in the Danbury News-Times, and that he has been saving them for me. He forgot to actually give me the copies that he has collected, but not that I know he has been collecting them and will continue to do so it quite cool.

Well, that’s about it for this week., got to get back to the grind (hey I’ve gotten two or three new scripts written that are targeted for the upcoming CAG/GWP comics. and now I have to type them up). Ciao.