This is the year that I get things done. For real. This will also be the year that I make a concerted effort to keep this blog updated more often.
Damian and I are pushing forward on the The Orchard, a 21 page tale that will be part of the (tentatively titled) Acts of Violence crime anthology that a group of writers and I are putting together.

Page 3 pencils from The Orchard:

Once we’re finished this story, we’re hopping back into The Division for Arcana and are hoping to have that complete early in 2009. When it will see print, I don’t know! Since coming across an old post where I claim that The Division will be out sometime in 2007, I’ve decided to stop making predictions. What I can tell you is that the first 3 issues are complete. Issue 4, the last, is currently (and slowly) being written.

Humanoids is plugging along. The artwork is looking great — SO, SO, GREAT — and I wish I could show it off, but I’m not sure how the publisher would feel about that.

I’ve got about a million and a half other projects in the wings, but will get to those at another time.

Lettering work is starting to look a little scarce with all that economic stuff going on. Right now, I’m enjoying the break, but in the next few days I’m going to dive in head first and see how much work I can drum up. A lot of publishers are cutting back on their production schedules in order to ride out the recession, so it’s not going to be easy, no sir.

What happened to October and November, you ask? A good question that I don’t have an answer for. They came and went.

I polished off the script to the first issue of Roger Corman Presents: Humanoids From The Deep and am pretty happy with how it came out. I think that fans of the film will probably dig it. I’ve worked hard to ensure that the script keeps in the spirit of the original while being more than just a rehash. Whether I’ve succeeded or not will be up the readers to decide. Hell, I’m just happy to be involved with a Roger Corman production. ROGER CORMAN! I would have his babies. Seriously.

Super talented Benjamin Hall is rocking out the artwork on the book (see his cover work above) and I couldn’t be happier about it. Not only is he a great artist, he’s also a huge fan of the original film. There’s a lot of great energy going on. We’re both so excited to be involved in the project and are working our balls off to make sure that the book does the film proud.

Other news:

The Mr. T book that I did some pre-press work on is now available for pre-order.

From the publisher:

With the outcome of the recent US elections, the time seems perfect for a real black super hero. British publisher Mohawk Media have answered this call with the worldwide launch of their graphic novel starring TV tough guy, Mr. T.

Author Christopher Bunting says: “Since the announcement of Barack Obama as President-elect, plans have apparently been fast-tracked for a black James Bond, a black Doctor Who, a black Captain America. But what’s missing is a real black hero.”

“Mr. T, star of this new graphic novel, is just the man for the job.”

Bunting continues: “Don’t think that we’re simply jumping on the bandwagon. Mohaw Media released a Limited Advance Edition of the Mr. T graphic novel back in February 2008, and it was made clear that this worldwide edition was to follow.”

The Mr. T graphic novel has already courted controversy, with its storylines concerning sex offenders, domestic abuse, and kidnap.

“One of the great things about Mr. T,” explains Bunting, “is because he’s real, we can tackle all kinds of topical and difficult real-world issues.”

Mr. T, star of smash-hits The A-Team, Rocky, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – the upcoming movie based on the best selling book of the same name – attributes this factor to his successful transformation into a graphic novel star: “People can relate to Mr. T. They know what he stands for: T for tender, but if you’re a bad guy, it’s T for tough!”

“Get that message out: give people their own black heroes!”

Mr. T has shown he believes what he says by providing world-exclusive interviews and a foreword for the Mr. T graphic novel, while also acting as Executive Editor.

Mr. T continues: “I pity the fool who don’t get my book, read it, and enjoy it!”

The Mr. T graphic novel can be ordered direct from publisher Mohawk Media for the exclusive price of £6.95 (UK) / $15.95 (US) including delivery. Alternatively, visit your local comic book store.

Even more news:

Just about complete lettering the ReBoot webcomic. Pages to date can be read over here. You will have to register for the site before you can read the comic. If you’re a ReBoot fan, then it’s well worth it.

Also, be sure to check out the 20 some-odd titles available over at Z2H (the folks behind the ReBoot comic), 90% of which were lettered by yours truly.

Further News Still:

The crime comic mentioned in the September post is moving forward. I did have some trouble finding an artist at first, but eventually teamed up with Damian Coucerio– again.

Damian and I have been working with for the past couple years on The Division, a comic that will hopefully be completed early in 2009 and published by Arcana sometime later in the year. I didn’t want to pull him away from The Division onto something else, but the need to get the crime comic complete over-rode that. In the end, it works in my favour as it gives me a chance to make a few tweaks to the final pages of The Division.

Well, finally got sick of the old site and decided to update the look a little. Will probably keep tinkering with it over the next couple of weeks.

I do love the header though! The above image is from a comic I wrote called THE KILLING STREETS (formerly BLACK RIVER). Jhomar Soriano did an amazing job pencilling and inking and Dean Trippe laid down some kick ass colours.

The book is currently sitting with a major independent publisher who I am hoping will decide to publish it. If they pass, I will be knocking down the doors of other independent publishers and, barring that, will publish on my own. The book is really some great stuff though, and I am confident that we’ll be able to find a publisher.

Speaking of publishing. I’m involved in a project with two other writers right now that seems to be coming together quite beautifully. We’re each writing short, self contained crime stories that will eventually be illustrated and published together in one volume. Dependant on the success of the first book, it may become a regular thing — only time will tell.

My story, The Orchard, is complete and I’m in the final stage of revisions. I’ve approached an artist and am waiting on word as to if he’ll be able to illustrate it. With any luck, I will be posting progress reports from the book over the next couple of months. I’m hoping to use this blog as a kind of “behind the scenes” look at the creation of my contribution to the, as of yet, unnamed book.

More details soon.

Official Press Release

Bluewater Productions and Roger Corman are teaming up to excite a new generation of genre fans as the independent comic publisher and legendary genre filmmaker plan to readapt and re-imagine some of Corman’s popular work.

Starting in 2009, several of Corman’s movies will be “given the Bluewater treatment” under the title “Roger Corman Presents.” Some of the first properties being produced include “Death Stalker,” “The Barbarian Queen,” “Humanoids From The Deep” and a re-franchising of Corman’s super heroine “Black Scorpion” which previously found success as two made-for-cable movies on Showtime and a 22 one hour episodes on the Sci Fi Channel.

Corman said: “Comic books have given me so much over the years that it’s time I gave something back to the medium.”

As Bluewater now is working with both Corman and the Vincent Price estate, it is certain that several of the horror classics based on the Edgar Allen Poe stories will also be produced in comic form in the near future.

“Roger Corman’s body of work is so visual and visceral,” said Bluewater’s president Darren G. Davis. “What will make these titles stand out is that Mr. Corman will be personally involved in their development,” Davis said. This is not just another licensing gimmick, but an outlet to rediscover his creative genius and a chance for readers to once again be pleasantly frightened. I still get the willies from the ‘Masque of the Red Death’.”

And just like DVDs that put extras and Easter eggs into their presentations, each Bluewater-Corman book with be full of fan favorite extras like interviews, behind the scene pictures and reminiscing about the titles from Corman himself.

Some of the creative team for the franchise will include writers and artists Paul Salamoff, Shon Bury, Neal Bailey, Ed Brisson & Daniel Cuchacovich — and television writer/producer Craig J. Nevius (THE FANTASTIC FOUR) who co-created “Black Scorpion” with Corman and is overseeing the Bluewater/Corman collaboration.

Nevius said: “Roger and I had always intended to create a comic book franchise based on the ‘Black Scorpion’ movies and TV series. And with classic costumed superheroes back in vogue thanks to the success of the ‘Batman’ and ‘Iron Man’ movies, the time seemed right to bring back our costumed superheroine.”

“Black Scorpion” was originally played by Joan Severence before Michelle Lintel took over the role for the television series. Bluewater has struck a deal with Lintel to use her image as the comic book basis for the title character.

ABOUT BLUEWATER:
Bluewater Productions, Inc. is one if the top independent production studios of comic, young adult books and graphic novel titles. In the tradition of great storytelling and cutting edge art, Bluewater storms onto the comic book and graphic novel scene. With more titles than ever, including smash hits such as the 10th MUSE, THE LEGEND OF ISIS, and RAY HARRYHAUSEN PRESENTS. Bluewater is poised to continue to produce engaging stories with art from both the top names in the industry alongside with up and coming stars.

ABOUT ROGER CORMAN:
The saga of independent filmmaker Roger Corman ranks as one of the most amazing motion picture success stories. Having produced more than 550 films and directed fifty others, his influence on American film goes far beyond his own energetic, creative low-budget movies. He is one of Hollywood’s most gifted and masterful film makers. Noted for his keen ability to spot young talents, his most lasting legacy will undoubtedly be the legion of producers, directors, writers, and actors he has fostered, among them: Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd, Talia Shire, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert DeNiro, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Charles Bronson, Joe Dante, Jonathan Demme, Gale Ann Hurd, and James Cameron.

Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve been up to for the past few months:

•Zeros 2 Heroes have posted a bunch of their winning books here. Of the 16 comics online, I lettered 13: Abigail’s War, Alma, Black Jack O’Breen, Blake Undying, The Brothers McElroy, Deutschmaschine, Hero High, Lotus, Mind Crimes, Minus One, Rip Current, Slaughter Inc and Supremacy: Dawn of Heroes. Check ‘em out. If you dig the comics, make sure to sign up to the site and become a fan. The more fans a book gets, the greater the chance that the series will be able to continue.

•I’ve been lettering both Gearz and Ray Harryhausen Presents: The Elementals for Bluewater Productions and will hopefully be working on more exciting projects with them down the line.

•Too many pitches to even mention, however there has been some great stuff that I hope publishers will have the good sense to pick up (and not just because it means extra work for me).

•We’re just about to start art on the final issue of The Division, a series that I’ve created and am writing. Should be out in 2009 from Arcana Comics. You can see some of the artwork from the first 2 issues on artist Damian Coucerio’s website: Click!