Do you ever look back and remember a time when was just you, your cousins and aunts and uncles? With me, being in Sea Isle, NJ, today, I look at all my cousins that now have given me 2nd cousins...I mean, almost all of the older cousins already do, and I'm thinking its only going to get moreso. With my sister having my first niece last September, even the Potchak's are starting to have kids...crazy stuff.
I read the comics I bought while in Brooklyn, and you can see building in almost all of them towards something, and I can't wait to see what it is.
I've done some drawing in a $5 sketchbook I purchased here, and I'll probably upload any of the sketches worthwhile when I return home.
I revisited THIEF #2's script and will probably start #3's script tomorrow or Tuesday. The scary thing about this issue is that it has to deal with the conflict of him taking the role of Infinity from the last one...basically what he tells the other heroes, and how he deals with them. Will he lie, will he be honest...? That's the million dollar question.
Tomorrow I'll be at the casino, in a $30 buy-in poker tournament, and testing my live game "skills" against other poker players. I don't like that they allow rebuys and add-ons, but hell, the best players don't need that stuff anyway. Who knows, if I play well, I'll give more consideration to Arnie telling me that I should go pro... the winner of these tournaments is normally around $2600. It'll be fun.
Well, I'm gonna run. Check Out elisalandis.com tomorrow, and there's only a couple more pages of it before the material that has never been read. The site does about 1200 hits on days that new pages are up, so I think that's a pretty good number.
Stay good, and I'll see if I can get on here tomorrow to let everyone know if I've beaten my brother in the tourney, or if I played well or what not.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Day one, continued.
Well, I went to the comic store, and was able to find SIX copies of Breach #7 and also 3 copies of JSA Classified #1, two of one cover, one of the other.
Gotta say, these finds were great, since I couldn't find any of the Teen Titans issues, or the Wonder Woman issue. Oh well, but hey, it's kinda cool that I was able to snag what is probably THE MOST LIMITED of all the Infinite Crisis lead ins, which happens to be the Breach Book.
On top of that, went out and had a wonderful dinner tonight, and getting ready to take in some of the local night life. Tomorrow, we'll head down to Jersey, I'll read a couple of the books I bought and then hopefully, after all that driving and boredom in the car, be able to start into my own writing.
I want to hit a rumor I've heard.
52, a weekly series that DC comics is going to run after Infinite Crisis, is supposed to take place and fill in the gaps for the 1 year gap, and happen as close to Real Time as possible. Neat concept...the rumor is that Breach...Batman... Superman...Wonder Woman and a couple other characters will ONLY be seen in this series, while their own books deal with issues of their respective family groups, although Wonder Woman may end up on hiatus, we're not sure. During this time, I expect to see Nightwingjump into the mantle of Batman, while Bruce Wayne's story continues in 52, and the same with Superman...someone will assume the mantle (possibly even Majestic) to keep the mantle moving forward...
IT just jazzes me up thinking about the endless possibilities.
I'm out for now.
Gotta say, these finds were great, since I couldn't find any of the Teen Titans issues, or the Wonder Woman issue. Oh well, but hey, it's kinda cool that I was able to snag what is probably THE MOST LIMITED of all the Infinite Crisis lead ins, which happens to be the Breach Book.
On top of that, went out and had a wonderful dinner tonight, and getting ready to take in some of the local night life. Tomorrow, we'll head down to Jersey, I'll read a couple of the books I bought and then hopefully, after all that driving and boredom in the car, be able to start into my own writing.
I want to hit a rumor I've heard.
52, a weekly series that DC comics is going to run after Infinite Crisis, is supposed to take place and fill in the gaps for the 1 year gap, and happen as close to Real Time as possible. Neat concept...the rumor is that Breach...Batman... Superman...Wonder Woman and a couple other characters will ONLY be seen in this series, while their own books deal with issues of their respective family groups, although Wonder Woman may end up on hiatus, we're not sure. During this time, I expect to see Nightwingjump into the mantle of Batman, while Bruce Wayne's story continues in 52, and the same with Superman...someone will assume the mantle (possibly even Majestic) to keep the mantle moving forward...
IT just jazzes me up thinking about the endless possibilities.
I'm out for now.
NY NJ trip, day 1
Got into Brooklyn about 5:30 am, after driving straight through. Gonna hit a comic store up here to try to find copies of Breach #7 and NEW TEEN TITANS #17 and 18, the issues were Tim Drake becomes Batman.
On top of that, had one of the best bagels I've ever had today (it is NY afterall) and Christy and I are having a blast just sitting around until we go out a bit later and walk around the most famous city in the world.
I'll try to give everyone updates as this trip goes, and who knows, since I'll be stress free, (Eric this is especially to you) I may get some writing done.
Gotta run though, before someone finds out I'm on their network.
On top of that, had one of the best bagels I've ever had today (it is NY afterall) and Christy and I are having a blast just sitting around until we go out a bit later and walk around the most famous city in the world.
I'll try to give everyone updates as this trip goes, and who knows, since I'll be stress free, (Eric this is especially to you) I may get some writing done.
Gotta run though, before someone finds out I'm on their network.
Monday, July 25, 2005
So a new piece of art...today, I drea this Batman piece, since its probably one of the last times I'll draw a Bruce Wayne as Batman figure. Why, you ask? It's simple, because after INFINITE CRISIS, I don't expect Bruce Wayne to be Batman anymore. I expect Tim Drake, aka, Robin to pick up the mantle, due to losing both his father...and Bruce, during the imminent Crisis.I really like the head in this drawing, yes I know his one arm is too small, but I kinda like my fake lighting...I dunno, maybe its really bad, and I'm just happy I drew SOMETHING...hehe. 
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Batman: Gotham Knights
Every so often a comic book makes you think. Sure, some would say not nearly as often as a Steven King book, or the latest Dean Koontz thriller, but there are some truly gifted writers writing comics these days, and my favorite Batman book to read for the past 16 months has been Batman Gotham Knights.
AJ Lieberman, the writer of the title, has found his niche and totally takes the characters to the next level in this book. The book itself is oftentimes written about the characters and the story is the side angle. His level of intuitiveness for the book is astounding, and unlike the other writers of the Batman titles, he has found a way to make you want to read every issue he writes.
It is far and away the best Batman title available on the market, and he has taken a character that Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb made famous from his introduction, Hush, and even topped their initial level of creativity to give this character not only a background, but also a very vindictive lifestyle towards one Bruce Wayne.
The regular artist for the series, Al Barrianeuvo (sp?) is an astounding talent, himself, although you can tell it takes him longer to complete a title, because he typically takes a break after about every fourth issue.
The most recent issue that hit this week was #67, and it dealt with a videographer that found tapes of Batman and Bruce Wayne using the same stylings for battle and the same moves in combat. While most people in the DC universe still can't figure out that Superman and Clark Kent are the same guy, this two bit thief is able to piece together that Batman and Bruce Wayne are one in the same.
After blackmailing Wayne, Wayne offers him the opportunity for a favor if he ever needs one. Not wanting to take this option he tells Wayne to make sure that Alfred delivers the money.
As much as I like this story and how easily its leading Batman down a dark path, I can't help but wonder one small thing...this guy is Batman, and yet he didn't just scare the shit out of the blackmailer. He didn't just break his arm, or tell him that his could make his life disappear as he knows it...nothing to instill fear.
Though I love the direction and the twists that Lieberman throws in...almost in every issue, and as much as I can't wait for the next issue, it still just doesn't seem like the kind of behavior you'd expect...although I guess as Batman is a guy that has recently figured out that time in his life had been altered by his friends, I guess he may not take the same action that he typically would have 3 yrs ago.
It leaves one to wonder...and yes, you should be reading this book.
AJ Lieberman, the writer of the title, has found his niche and totally takes the characters to the next level in this book. The book itself is oftentimes written about the characters and the story is the side angle. His level of intuitiveness for the book is astounding, and unlike the other writers of the Batman titles, he has found a way to make you want to read every issue he writes.
It is far and away the best Batman title available on the market, and he has taken a character that Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb made famous from his introduction, Hush, and even topped their initial level of creativity to give this character not only a background, but also a very vindictive lifestyle towards one Bruce Wayne.
The regular artist for the series, Al Barrianeuvo (sp?) is an astounding talent, himself, although you can tell it takes him longer to complete a title, because he typically takes a break after about every fourth issue.
The most recent issue that hit this week was #67, and it dealt with a videographer that found tapes of Batman and Bruce Wayne using the same stylings for battle and the same moves in combat. While most people in the DC universe still can't figure out that Superman and Clark Kent are the same guy, this two bit thief is able to piece together that Batman and Bruce Wayne are one in the same.
After blackmailing Wayne, Wayne offers him the opportunity for a favor if he ever needs one. Not wanting to take this option he tells Wayne to make sure that Alfred delivers the money.
As much as I like this story and how easily its leading Batman down a dark path, I can't help but wonder one small thing...this guy is Batman, and yet he didn't just scare the shit out of the blackmailer. He didn't just break his arm, or tell him that his could make his life disappear as he knows it...nothing to instill fear.
Though I love the direction and the twists that Lieberman throws in...almost in every issue, and as much as I can't wait for the next issue, it still just doesn't seem like the kind of behavior you'd expect...although I guess as Batman is a guy that has recently figured out that time in his life had been altered by his friends, I guess he may not take the same action that he typically would have 3 yrs ago.
It leaves one to wonder...and yes, you should be reading this book.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Wizard World Atlanta - BOOO!!!
HEy, I know its been almost two weeks since my last report, but heck, work is driving me nutty and definitely taking too much wind out of my sails...but I wanted to comment on something.
Wizard, the magazine company for the comic industry has decided that it wants to hold a convention in Atlanta the same weekend as HEROES CON 06. This sucks for a small show like Heroes Con, since ultimately, the larger convention will end up squeezing the life out of the smaller show, and with it only being about 6 hours from each other, will totally make creators want to go to the larger venue.
Artists and writers from Gaijin Studios, Desperado Publishing, Bryan Hitch and Greg Rucka have already said that they intend to go to Heroes Con, and I continue to stay with my tradition of going to Heroes as well, because the people that you meet at that show are always interesting, and its cozy enough to have a 2 hour conversation after the show with the likes of Tom Feister, Tony Harris, John Cassaday and others.
It upsets me that knowing what I know of the industry, people that I have a lot of respect for in the industry, like Joe Q, Ethan Van Sciver, Brandon Peterson and more will opt to go to the larger convention because its a bigger spotlight, and you really can't blame them for doing so. But it'd be a lot nicer to be able to go to the smaller, more down to earth con, and be able to get to know these guys.
Hell, what other show had Comics' Legend, Dave Cockrum at it this year? None. And why? Because he'd rather not be exploited, and I have to tell you, with everything that man has gone through, as a comic fan, I felt truly touched knowing that I had a ten minute conversation with him when he was just going around the con floor in his wheelchair, as he brought the industry one of my favorite characters (Nightcrawler) and his work continues to inspire.
Anyway, I thought I'd chime in that I would love to go to a Wizard convention, but I'll be attending Heroes Con because the only time I met Shelton, I thought he was a class act, and I admire that.
Wizard, the magazine company for the comic industry has decided that it wants to hold a convention in Atlanta the same weekend as HEROES CON 06. This sucks for a small show like Heroes Con, since ultimately, the larger convention will end up squeezing the life out of the smaller show, and with it only being about 6 hours from each other, will totally make creators want to go to the larger venue.
Artists and writers from Gaijin Studios, Desperado Publishing, Bryan Hitch and Greg Rucka have already said that they intend to go to Heroes Con, and I continue to stay with my tradition of going to Heroes as well, because the people that you meet at that show are always interesting, and its cozy enough to have a 2 hour conversation after the show with the likes of Tom Feister, Tony Harris, John Cassaday and others.
It upsets me that knowing what I know of the industry, people that I have a lot of respect for in the industry, like Joe Q, Ethan Van Sciver, Brandon Peterson and more will opt to go to the larger convention because its a bigger spotlight, and you really can't blame them for doing so. But it'd be a lot nicer to be able to go to the smaller, more down to earth con, and be able to get to know these guys.
Hell, what other show had Comics' Legend, Dave Cockrum at it this year? None. And why? Because he'd rather not be exploited, and I have to tell you, with everything that man has gone through, as a comic fan, I felt truly touched knowing that I had a ten minute conversation with him when he was just going around the con floor in his wheelchair, as he brought the industry one of my favorite characters (Nightcrawler) and his work continues to inspire.
Anyway, I thought I'd chime in that I would love to go to a Wizard convention, but I'll be attending Heroes Con because the only time I met Shelton, I thought he was a class act, and I admire that.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Sorry its been so long since I updated this place. I'll attempt to NOT go that long again. Today, I've placed one of the LANDIS #0 covers up here, to remind everyone that elisalandis.com is up and running and to pay attention because after the first 22 pages, this project really takes off. I have begun thinking that the reason the project probably didn't take off nearly as well as I originally wanted has a lot to do with the pacing of the first issue. I gave it a big romance feel with Jean Ayme, which the funny thing about him is that he was a REAL follower of Nostradamus, and that was part of all the research Owen and I put into the series. His designs were looked up for that era, and my history lessons were honest and true. I just know that as soon as the first issue finally shows up (about 15 strips from now), you'll notice a HUGE difference on the pacing and the flow is much more clear. Recently, there have been people in online forums that have said things about Landis being "not very good," but then again, this is probably a person who got that #0 issue FOR FREE and didn't pass it on to a friend who may've liked it, but heck, Owen and I gave our best efforts for that time when we worked on it, and I'm just ecstatic that its finally getting out there.
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