8/31/06: TRAIL OF CORPSES

So I was trying to fix something at my house which forced me into the garage to attempt to locate a screwdriver, and what I found was a story entitled "Corpses Trail," an 'Ardy' story that I wrote and drew in a notebook that dealt with time travel, Ardy trying to save his planet and much more...however, it's real old, so while I may treat you folks again with old art from it (I think 1993 is when I did it), I think more importantly was the name of the story...Corpses Trail. It gave me an idea for a story so heartwarming and filled with buttercups that I ...oh wait, no it didn't. It's more like filled with briars and kidney stones, a story that has now been started as TRAIL OF CORPSES.

No, it isn't a zombie story, though those are always fun, its the story of a nemesis for someone. Gavin Decker is a character that lives in a world without heroes, and part of it has to do with him. He has a way of pushing people to the edge, and helping them get to where they want to go, and in most cases, its the big dirt nap. I'm going to do something I haven't done here yet, and I want people to respond. I finally wrote in a short story format. I typically write in a comic book format that my wife can't get into and she really can't get behind. She knows its easy enough to read, but it almost seems she just tells me she likes it to make me happy, and that's okay with me...but you folks are the real audience, the ones I try to appeal to, and Gavin Decker COULD actually be the perfect villain for Landis, so because of this, I've decided to post "Part One" of TRAIL OF CORPSES. I want people's thoughts, I want to hear what you think, and yes, the story is derived from a character from a marvelous universe, but all is not always as it seems. Anyway, read it, enjoy it, and post a reply. Tell me if you think this story can go somewhere.

I really like it.

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TRAIL OF CORPSES
Concept and story created by Rob Potchak

PART 1
“I do not live in a world of heroes. I live in a world of lies, deceit, and filth. Truth be told, I can’t even truly say that if I could change it I would. I look back at what has come before me, and then I look forward, and all I continue to see is a simple notion…

“A Trail of Corpses.”

Gavin Decker is no ordinary man. His left leg is slightly longer than his right, which causes back and neck pain that is regular to most people, since they are all imperfections. His rust colored hair, and its shine, as if it hasn’t been washed in days, collecting its own oils, though he’d tell you he showers every day. He is a late twenties born shopkeeper, tired of milling around and earning pennies on the dollar, knowing full well that the larger corporations are taking much larger chunks of his life, and many like him.

Everywhere Gavin has gone in his life, growing up in a military family, there has always been one thing that has been constant, it is never left in the shape it started in. You can’t necessarily blame someone who’s existence is based in a world where people live and die over dollars, spilt milk and professional wrestling. Gavin as always been a proactive person, rather than waiting for the next thing to come along. Today is no different.

As he begins to cross the street, he witnesses an old blind man walking out in front of a truck whose brakes look as though they’ve given out. In another instant, a young boy runs out in an attempt to save the elderly man by pushing him out of the way. The truck begins to swerve, and as is normally the case, too late to stop, the waste that was being transported pours onto the boy, who luckily, was able to save the old man.

Gavin looks on, waiting for something from the truck driver, who is now outside the truck, assessing his damages, rather than checking the boys vital signs. Which is more important in this situation, a boy’s life that hasn’t been led yet, or the blown tire of an irate trucker, not recognizing that he is responsible for the condition of the boy. Maybe to the trucker, it is the second, when it should be the first, however, the third situation is what Gavin takes into consideration, that of the older gentleman that the youngster pushed out of the way.

Decker walked up to the older man, who is tending to his knee, and griping about the fact a hooligan has caused him to get hurt and break his cane. “Sir, have you any idea that you are alive because of that boy?”

“Hodge Podge. No child is going to risk their life for a codger like myself. Hell, he probably would have laughed with his friends about it. ‘This old blind man walked in front of a truck, and guess what happened?’

“Sir, you really haven’t grasped the situation here, have you? You are alive, and a boy has just had what looks to be some sort of waste almost drown him, and all you can do is speak cynically about what you think a 15 year old thinks of your condition? Have you no respect for anyone other than yourself?” Gavin preaches.

“Boy, listen to yourself. In this world, its kill or be killed, live or die. I’ve lived 67 years, dealing with my blindness since the war, but you know what I received for my troubles? Squat. Why? Because no one gives hand outs to a blind old man who doesn’t pity himself for his condition.”

Gavin placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder. He continues to talk to the old man, “You may believe the world to be one way, and I’m not going to steer you down another path today. In fact, quite the opposite. You may have thought that my tirade may have been to get your repentance, but it wasn’t, you failed piece of the whole. I’m not here to make you change your mind, quite the contrary. I enjoy your way of going through life, fending for no one or nothing but yourself, not caring whether you live or die…as it makes my decision much easier here…”

Almost as if he is able to see, the blind man turns to look up towards Decker, his glasses on the bridge of his nose, containing scratches from the push a few short moments ago. He doesn’t speak to Gavin to make his point seen again, but this time, his face starts to warp. The skin begins to hang and fall from the face, and the blood seems to rush away from his formerly rosy cheeks.

The old man falls over, as Decker’s hand on his shoulder isn’t for balance or stability, but for Gavin’s point to be realized, “You said it yourself, old man, it’s kill or be killed, and unfortunately, your lack of faith and mercy have condemned you to your end. Had you been thankful in the least that the boy had saved you, you may yet have been able to see that your life was worth as much as the child’s, rather than both being thrown away.”

Gavin Decker stands up, pulls the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, and continues to walk. He looks back only once, to witness the site of two paramedics pulling a white sheet over the child’s face, having not survived the amount of exposure he was in contact with. Decker shakes his head, looks up to the sky and points a finger, “C’mon big guy, you didn’t have to do that to the kid, and don’t give me none of that ‘it was his time,’ bullshit. That boy could’ve been a hero after a daredevil maneuver like that.”

END PART 1

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Okay, now let me know...by the way, this is the 325th post here, so I decided to give you guys a little something extra :).

8/30/06: Guido Guido Guido

JK Radtke and I have been discussing an art group, where we give each other an idea of what characters we want to draw and then we draw them and post them and see what people think. Well, the first character we both decided on was GUIDO, aka STRONG GUY from Marvel's X-Factor. One of my favorite characters, I decided to go ahead and draw him...but since I couldn't find a pencil and wanted to really give something I didn't just draw him once...I drew him three times...so here are those drawings.

8/29/06: Bodog, funny, and more...

So one of the funniest things on my computer happened, and I can't seem to fix it, but hopefully when I reload the computer it'll fix itself. Ever video file I play currently goes directly into fast speed, like 4X speed. Now this may not seem funny, but it basically means that everyone sounds like the chipmunks, including the stuff that isn't appropriate for "all audiences..." NOW THAT'S FUNNY SHIT!

Also, I like Bodog.com. I am a poker player, and I play on Bodog. My problem with them is that it seems that 90% of the time, if you have the best hand before the RIVER card, you lose on the river. I don't know if these are accurate odds, but just my perception, since I'll normally hold the higher hand until that moment. Now, if you like Poker, Bodog has a referral program, so just send me an email to rpotchak@gmail.com, and I'll make sure to send you a referral so that you get some bonus, and I get some bonus. Also, if anyone knows of a better and safer alternative to online poker (like with third party auditors or what have you), let me know. I'd try out a different site if it seemed safer.

By now, most of you have read that AP Furtado has joined the cast of lunatics on Dead Sonja. He has already sent me the first page of the project, and he claims its the first time in years that he has thought of a project in nothing but black and white...so everyone knows, his Elf and Troll series is full color at 01comics.com and as far as I can tell, he writes, draws, letters and colors it himself...he's a renaissance man in this field that can put wonderful pieces together, and I've NEVER seen anyone work as fast as him...EVER. At least with the quantity of work and the quality of the page.

BEFORE I FORGET...Eric Kent HAS sent me the first portion of pages for BOTH TAGGER and THIEF, and needless to say, I'm ecstatic about how they are turning out. His look for Tagger, and his work on the expressions after the incident with the water tampering are perfect. There's a flashback sequence for that, and he just seems to nail it. Its great...And all the art he sent really shows improvement over what he's done in the past. It may seem like its taking a while, but thats what happens when you want to build up a surplus after the stockpile runs out.

All for now.

8/28/06: Dead Sonja NEWS!

AP "Heavy Metal" Furtado joins DEAD SONJA team!

Tony Furtado has taken on the art of the first 16 page story from Dead Sonja. This is the first time Tony and I have worked on a a story together since BUSTY VS. XXXENA. Tony has gone on to some GREAT things with 01comics.com, becoming the art director and an extremely overworked artist.

Him joining the project was a long shot that I took in hopes of using his love of Red Sonja, and it worked, and now I'm happy as a pig in shit. If Freddie Blatant III will let me post some preli art from it, I'll show everyone WHY I begged this guy to draw it...

Or just go check out his project, Elf and Troll from 01comics.com

8/18/06: Really picking apart a comic...in a good way.

Hey folks...you want to see how reading TOO far into a comic can be a good thing? First, go out, buy a copy of BATMAN #655, the first issue with Grant Morrison as the writer and Andy Kubert as the artist...THEN...read this...http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=80996

Y'see, the writer of this totally picks apart Grant Morrison's writing style, since when he's writing a character, he's writing TO the reader. He's asking questions, begging for acceptance and truly getting a third dimension (or maybe fourth) in his way of doing things. He's involving the reader both metaphorically as well as being the typical bystander in the scene.

Its almost creepy if this is what Morrison actually meant, but it TRULY...uniequically, makes you think that some people that write comics are much further advanced than the readers that follow their work.

8/17/06: Email from Joe Quesada.

For those of you that read online comics only, and have no idea who Joe Quesada is, he's the Editor In Chief (or the EEK as he says) of Marvel Comics, and a very good guy. I like him, even though other comic book people don't...He's done me right as long as I've emailed him, instant messaged with him, etc. So the other day, I just sent him an email. I've posted the entire email from me at the bottom of this post, and his response is just above it.

The guy gets like 500 emails a day. I'm not saying I'm special because he replies to mine, but he responds almost every time I email him now...not long colorful emails...just one liners mostly, but he replies...not like the guys at DC, and not like the guys at Image...so here's the email that I sent, talking about the inker Marvel uses for a newly exclusive artist, named Leonard Kirk. An excellent artist on his four issue Detective Comics run, I *personally* felt that Marvel was under utilizing him based on the finish artist that put on top of him...his finisher at DC, Andy Clarke made his work look like Travis Charest, my favorite artist... so here's the email.

-----------------------------


Thanks for the suggestion Rob.

JQ

-----Original Message-----
From: RPotchak@aol.com
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 8:00 PM
Subject: Leonard Kirk art and who should be inking him.

Joe,

Upon seeing that Leonard Kirk signed an exclusive with Marvel, I was
ultra excited based on his work that I saw in Detective Comics. The
man's work looked a lot like Travis Charest, though he was able to do
monthly work. What more could someone ask for?

Then I saw AGENTS OF ATLAS #1. I still liked the composition of the
book and Leonard's storytelling, but that intricate line work that was
so very great in Detective, was no nowhere to be found.

I don't know how many other people have made this request, but they
should, and do so in droves, but I suggest getting Leonard's finisher
artist, Andy Clarke, from his Detective work to finish him from now on
instead of whomever Marvel has inking him. Not only will it look
better, but it may bring more followers of his previous work BACK to
look at his new work.

I would also recommend the same inker for Olivier Coipel, since he is
known as an avid Charest fan, as well, and it would just add another
element to the work.

If you want a listing of the Detective issues I'm speaking about, they
are #817-820, featuring Simone Bianchi covers and written by James
Robinson.

I guarantee sales would increase with Clarke inking Kirk...since we
don't get enough Charest work on this side of the ocean.

Thanks for the consideration.

Rob Potchak

-----------------------

See? Just a one line response...and if he really takes it into consideration, I'll be a happy fan.

8/17/06: Update of sorts...

Still no word on who the artists will be for DEAD SONJA, but that's okay, I'm sure Freddie will get me some good artists to make the project look better, heh.

Eric has informed me that he's going to be sending me the first 8 pages of TAGGER, followed shortly by the rest of the pages out of the first "issue" which is 22 pages.
This is great news, since I won't publish any of it until its complete, but he's much farther ahead on this than I thought he'd be at this point, but if we're going with sharp pencils instead of full inks, we ought to be able to get a good looking story out there and on elisalandis.com for all you landis fans.

I've already come up with names for future Blatant books, or at least crossover Blatant books, which I may bring in EVERYTHING JAKE'S Mike Rosenzweig to help write a Highlander parody, since we're both big fans.

Apparently, the guy that owns the local comic store wants to talk with me about the possibilities of a third store, or my first...this is great news, because if I could be running a comic store, I could be writing them at the same time...

And my day in traffic court has been postponed...still not allowed to comment further.

How's everyone else doing?

8/14/06: Dropping the post number.

Why am I dropping the post number? Every time I post...if I delete a post, it gets rid of it, so I don't want to do that, anymore, so I figure I'll post with the date from now on. We're over 300 posts, so it really shouldn't matter one way or another.

Well, I've finished the DEAD SONJA: SHE ZOMBIE WITH A SWORD #1 script for Blatant Comics, and while I CAN NOT say that it is my best work, I can say that it has a good flow to it, and all the stories coincide with each other nicely, since there are three totally random stories in the issue...each 16 pages, so at least there's enough filling for the price point. In fact, since we're doing it for only 3.99, that's only a dollar more for OVER twice the content of your average Marvel, DC or IMAGE title...so even if only thirty pages of content are "satisfactory" that means you are still getting your money's worth...heh.

Alright, I won't rationalize the story aspect. What I will say about it is this. I like writing fiction that isn't parody MORE than I enjoy parody. But I DO like PArody writing enough to do it, and do it "well." No one wants to write a character like another character, only in silly situations, but if it earns you a published book when you don't see another coming, you do it, and enjoy the humor in it.

Obviously, I was entertained wnough with the idea while writing it to draw a picture of the female lead, and write 48 quality script pages within 7 day, so I'd feel I was inspired.

While at Heroes Con in Charlotte, I met a lot of really nice artists...including Javier Saltares (drew Landis), Jame O'Barr (I could write a novel on what he told me in 30 minutes), and quite a few others...Here's the thing, I would like to say I was networking...WHAT was I networking, you ask? LANDIS. I chat with Brandon Peterson, Mike Choi, Randy Green, and Ethan Van Sciver about doing a commission of LANDIS, all of which seemed REALLY interested, however, had some time constraints. All of these guys have been on extremely successful titles, so because of this, getting any of them to actually do a piece, and then getting it framed would be totally kickass.

One thing EACH of them explained to me, however, was to NOT publish any of the art, unless I asked for a cover / pinup illustration, all of them stating that they'd put more effort into something that would subsequently cost more...This, I feel is a disservice to you loyal readers (50 or so of which will read down this far, hehe), and who knows, if Chris can get me in touch with another artist, we may get more LANDIS sooner, rather than later...but who knows.

This is more of a rant than anything else. I decided to cut 90% of the pornstar friends from the MYSPACE page (myspace.com/potsandpansink) because it just worth getting bulletins about where they were stripping, singing, or wearing (nothing), and not wanting to look at it.

Christy (my wife) and I are doing quite a bit better, though I have been really sick the past couple days (I think it may be the flu), and without medical insurance until it kicks in from the job, I'm reluctant to create another bill. Hopefully enough Dayquil and NyQuil will help me get through it.

I have my court date on Wednesday, so I am still not at liberty to share this story...at least again. I'm sure I'll have good or bad news to post...or at least indifferent news when they continue the case. I DID however spend $200 on a new suit today to make sure that I'm not just in Sunday Best, but wearing better than I ever do that day...of course, $200 was more than I wanted to spend, but I figured I might as well get a new tie, and Suit coast and pants...what can it hurt? Most of my friends are getting married or whatever now, so it makes sense for multiple occassions.

Christy has told me she's taking a month off of drinking again, to prove to herself she can do it. I'm skepticle, but supportive as I want her to prove to both of us that the drinking doesn't control her...as it does AFTER she's been drinking.

I do not drink and drive now. I won't have a single drink and then get behind the wheel of a car. I'm not trying to preach, but my wife is supposed to uphold that rule, too, because of everything, and if she can't, that's where a problem stems from.

Have you ever felt like your life isn't where you want it to be? I have this feeling all the time, and yet, I still want to move forward with things like having children...why? I'm not really sure...maybe I feel this growing thing inside telling me that this is what's next. I'm very stubborn, if I want something, I normally go get it...this could turn out to be a real problem in the future when it involved both myself and my wife, but it doesn't stop me from wanting nor doing.

In that way, I guess I understand Christy's want to drink. She wants it, regardless of what it may do, and without thinking through some of the consequences...ah well.

It seems I've give you folks a lot to digest here. Reply if you'd like...let me know where you WANT to be in life, and how you plan to get there...me...I'm feeling it out right now. I just wish that the people doing interviews for employment would take a shot on hiring me, so I can make the company money...

Post 319 (also 8/7/06): More new art...

Since the art thing seems to be working, I figure I'll go ahead and add another piece...

This is the penciled cover of THIEF #2 from Eric Kent. He's now slaving away on TAGGER, but after we finish up Tagger, he'll be back to this labor of love, that as far as he keeps telling me is into the third issue of art, where I told him to stop to come up with a better ending (since I hate being my own editor, I don't realize something's bad until the artist is midway through drawing it...STILL SORRY, ERIC!)

With TAGGER, we've decided to just letter Eric's pencils, and at present will probably be done in black and white, unless Eric wants to play with coloring it, too, but since we're not being paid like the big time pros we are (hehe), we may have to cut some corners, while not sacrificing the quality...

Not quite sure if Eric wanted me to show this piece or not, but it shows how good of an artist he is with perspective. I'm really a blessed writer with most of the artists I've worked with...

Tony Furtado has worked with Heavy Metal and is now at 01comics, Tim Johnson (from the Ardy story you've no doubt read) has become a commercial artist and painter, Eric has worked with plenty of pros in the past, JK is a super talent that doesn't realize his own potential, and without really being in the industry door like I try to be, has quite a few connections, not to mention everyone else I've worked with...

Well, I'm off for tonight...back to work in the morning, BOOOOOOOOOO! And then somehow have Tuesday off before I go to work probasbly every day straight til my impending court case on the 16th.

Post 318 (8/7/06): Trying to post a new piece of art.

So Blogger now looks to have an image addition selection that I didn't even notice...so I'm trying it out. The piece in question shows you how excited I am about a project, since I keep getting told I need to do complete art pieces, and I feel that besides coloring this one, its about as complete as a drawing from me gets, hehe...

This is a piece of promo art I did for DEAD SONJA. Why did I do one? Because the book is fun to write, and because I wanted a reason to play on the tablet. The basic layout and character placement was actually done by one of the best comic book artists out there, Jim Lee. I redrew from his design our own Sonja character, adding a lot of my typical hatchmarks and making it a whole different piece of subject matter. I basically redrew it from his early design of his RED Sonja #12 cover. Even when signing the piece, however, I showed that it was an homage to the former head of Homage Studios.

I've already written 32 pages of the 48 page book, and I haven't even worked out the details on the contract terms....But I have been told that if this book does well, we'll move forward with sequels, and maybe even crossovers with other "dynamic" characters...

Post 317 (8/5/06): New gig...and everything else.

Let's start with what has me down right now...

I started my new job a month ago, with the intention of growing in it, and trying to develop a career...yesterday, before I got home from vacation, I began looking for another job. Why?

Because its the stupid corporate world where you are doing it for someone else. It isn't like a government job where you can grow old in it, and heck, maybe even excel to the point of making a difference, it is simply doing someone else's work for them, and half the time, the people you work for can't even do the job you are doing, so why the hell should they be ahead of you in the game?

I applied for a job with the State Lottery, as well as a corporate sales position with a top computer company...why? Because the money is decent, the benefits are good, and I could start my own family...the only other type of job that would be truly possible in...

My own business...and trust me, I'm talking with someone about the possibility of that, too...but will it happen? I'm not sure. I want it to, even though the amount of effort, work, drive and motivation would be solely on my shoulders there...but I want it.

To own my own comic store, or at least be a business partner with an established comic store owner, working in it day to day to further my own stock in the building until one day it would be my own...THAT'S what I want...and I could be successful at it...the hard part would be finding the niche to get the guaranteed sales...and to drive the business so that you could make a profit...and in a comic store...that may take years...but would it be worth it?

I think so...and so does my wife, as long as I also sold art supplies from it... so paints, papers, canvas, you name it, she wants to sell that too...I just want to be able to cover the bills, have benefits and go from there...hell, if I was running a comic shop, I could be writing my own books...which speaking of which...

Today I got a new writing gig. From a gentleman by the name of Frederick J Blatant III, the publisher of Blatant Comics...yeah, I thought they were gone, too, but this October, I am writing a book titled DEAD SONJA, and yes, its a parody book in the style of my previous ones, EboniX-Men, Busty: The Vampire Murderer and Busty vs. XXXena.

Here's the cool thing about it. I wrote the entire FIRST 16 page story for the book already...when? Today. and its actually decent. I hope Freddie gets a good artist on it, but amazingly enough, for ALL Landis fans out there...this will be the FIRST collaborative effort from Owen Gieni and myself SINCE LANDIS...He's done the cover for it, which I'll see if I can get a link for.

The book will be 48 pages of story...and will consist of three different 16 page stories. It'll probably be in black and white, but under the off chance that it actually does enough orders in the solicitation (Diamond Distributors, the #1 distribution chain in comics gave it a SPOTLIGHT feature), we may see it happen in color.

Also, something on the LANDIS front for all you folks that still come here from time to time hoping for new story or art from her...

I was chatting with Keenspot's publisher, Chris Crosby earlier today about LANDIS VOLUME 1, and he said that due to the movie treatment that I wrote for it, that he may fast track the trade paperback collection edition of the book, so that he can place it into hands of people that actually make decisions of tv series or movies... Now remember, since Keenspot got "YOU DAMN KID" picked up by Fox, people have been waiting for the next big project from them...I can't tell you who we are talking to about this, or who its been sent to, but trust me, the treatment is good... so good in fact that I want to run it as the NEXT Landis book....but a new artist is needed for it...

Anywho, I've probably said TOO much, and since this is my longest blog post in a while, people may not actually read all that. I just hope the LANDIS V.1 gets published soon, because I want to make sure that ANYONE who wants a copy of the WHOLE book, IN FULL COLOR AND FULLY LETTERED gets to see EVERYTHING they were hoping to...and who knows, I may even be able to sneak the 25 page ARDY: CTNS 10th Anniversary Director's Cut into all that, too...

Now all I gotta do is find out how much Blatant is going to pay me, AND try to get both Eric and JK a pinup page in the DEAD SONJA book...heh.

Post 316 (8/4/06): Erik Larsen, and why I may NEVER be published by IMAGE

IMAGE comics is a company that is often known as the number three in the "Big Three," right behind Marvel and DC...problem is, it hasn't been "BIG" in about 6 years. It has done a lot of small press books since Jim Valentino took over as their editor in chief. He decided to bring these books in because of one reason... They were good.

Erik Larsen took over as the Publisher of Image when Jim no longer wanted the day to day strain. Its understandable that this would happen as burn out is big in any magazine, comic or book field.

Erik was known for his previous work on Spider-man, Punisher, and more recently his own Savage Dragon series (which has now gone about 130 issues, an amazing feat for a comic by an "indy" publisher). I thought who would understand a good story like LANDIS better than a guy that truly loves his own creations?

So I did something I never thought I'd do. I sent EVERY page of Landis art, including EVERY PAGE you folks had seen in full color AND all the others that hadn't been colored yet, on a DVD at 600 dpi to Mr. Larsen personally trying to get it looked at and published. I sent him my email address to reply, as this was what I wrote to him. I will paraphrase,since when I lost my last harddrive, I probably lost the exact letter.

"Mr. Larsen,

Enclosed with this letter is a DVD that contains 120 pages of a book titled LANDIS. This work has been near complete for approximately three years, and though it still requires coloring to be completed on the last pages, the book is nearly complete, and just needs a publisher, as all the other fees have been taken care of.

At Image, I understand you have a tendency to take chances on comics, and this book is a proven winner, having been launched as an online comic through the Keenspot Network. We need a publisher and Image and the Image "I" would give it its best chance at the exposure to help the book succeed."

There was more, like what the book was about, as well as a good catch and hook, the things that any great proposal is supposed to have.

I actually received an email from Mr. Larsen. It simply said, "Thank you for your interest in IMAGE Publishing your title. We have decided not to Publish Landis at this time."

Now this is not that big of a deal, except that I know the quality of LANDIS is better than some of the titles IMAGE DOES PUBLISH...which leads me to believe that Mr. Larsen NEVER looked at the pages or read any of the scripts. I feel he specifically based his opinions for the book on my hook, line and sinker...and he didn't like it.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a negotiating bug in me. I just need to talk to someone to get them to buy into what I'm selling. That's why I was great at commissioned sales (until the sales disappeared based on the companies idiocy). I feel that if I were to get 15 minutes with Mr. Larsen, or anyone in the comic community, I'd be able to land a writing gig. Why do I feel so strongly? Because I am good at negotiating.

The problem I run into is that no one begins conducting business in this industry over the phone or in person. ITs all email. Its all mailing a proposal...and its understandable.

I think I've been hard on Mr. Larsen and his position, and at this point, whether he wants to admit that he may hold a grudge against me for anything I've said, I think that if he sees my name on a proposal, no matter how great it may look, I think he may go, "Oh yeah, this guy again."

I've submitted four proposals in my life. One was for a book starring Madrox and Strong Guy...I was told by Joe Quesada that the characters were not marketable, but to contact Mike Marts about trying to get it as a backup story in X-Men Unlimited. That's not a "No, we don't want it." Mike Marts NEVER replied, even though the email sent to him was a forwarded reply from Joe Q.

The second idea was called "Superman/Batman: Before the Age." It was to be a two issue miniseries that involved a young Bruce Wayne meeting a young Clark Kent before they ever became heroes...Weird thing to this is that Smallville WAS NOT a TV show at this point, and the story dealt with Wayne's limo braking down in Smallville and watching as the kids were playing...Three years later, after this proposal...Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale write and draw a little 5 pager of a young Bruce Wayne's limo braking down in Smallville and watching kids playing. In NO way do I think that the idea was stolen, but my idea was thrown around with Ethan Van Sciver, who told me, "No Pro Writer would ever steal your idea, Rob, their Egos are too big. They want to show you that they can write better than anyone who's not in the business." This was a great sigh of relief, until I saw that story, and my heart sunk. To think that my idea was thought up by someone as popular and as good a writer as Jeph Loeb makes me realize that I've got great ideas...I mean really Great ideas...its just too bad my name isn't big enough.

I submitted Landis about 15 months ago to IMAGE, and that story was chronicled above.

And most recently, I sent another proposal to Joe Q about their Marvel Zombies projects. IT was a crossover from the book EXILES that would have them venture into the Marvel Zombie Universe...the response I received from Joe Q, "That's a good idea, Rob..." that was it. No negotiations...no book writing....just, it was a good idea and this probably means that its already in the works...

OH well...I need to get back into coming up with good ideas...maybe one time, I'll catch a break...anyway, back to my last real day of vacation.