Larry Shuput's Idea Mayhem

If I was in charge of the DC Universe Reimagination

2011-06-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

This is an idea in progress. I’m trying to stretch out my thinking for fun. Thank you for taking a look.

DC Comics is rebooting and renumbering their entire line in September, 2011. The initial press materials make it appear that the universe is getting a fresh coat of paint, not so much a ground up rebuild.

This has been attempted a few times in the past. The renumbering concept goes back to 1986 when the idea was proposed to follow Crisis on Infinite Earths. It was rejected at that time, although a few titles were renumbered and restructured.

I feel the failing of all reboots to really capture a larger reading demographic comes down to the reboot just lets you tell the same stories again. Comics have a 76 year history that needs to be acknowledged and embraced. Comics don’t always have to tell contemporary stories to maintain a sense of continuity.

With this concept I am proposing that events have run approximately in real time. Characters have aged and died. Sometimes replace by new characters. Truly build a sense of history and not keep trying to relegate your history of stories into a mythical ten year period. That’s just stupid and insulting to your audience.

To capture the imagination, you must not just reboot the status quo, you have to completely re-imagine the core. Keep true to the guiding principle but add depth and possibility for creativity.

SUPERMAN

1938 - Superman debuts to a world just beginning to be rocked by war. His existence is spread by scattered news reports and word of mouth mythology. He is as he always was and should be, the first.
By Earth calendar he is 24 years old. This puts his year of birth at 1914. Symbolic attachment to World War 1. This puts him growing up in Kansas during the great Depression and the isolationist mentality that still was pervasive after WW1. Possibly tie in an FDR Fireside chat as a source of inspiration for the decision to reveal.

1949 - Marries Lois Lane - He’s been Superman for 11 years. World War 2 has been fought and won. The world has returned to something normal. While not retired, he’s not as active as he once was.

1952 - Clark Jr. is born

1953 - after long being asked to not interfere in the Korean conflict Superman is asked to defend the flag and freedom from the growing Communist threat - circumstances are clouded in mystery, Superman disappears and peace is achieved.

1967 - 1970 - Clark Jr spends most of these years in the 30th Century working with the Legion of Super Heroes. Working with these young heroes, Clark’s powers fully develop.

1971 - Clark Jr. debuts as Superman 2 - Very much speaking to the legacy of his father. Similar to how we have political dynasties, just as his father was the first superhero, he is the first of the dynasties. Clark Jr. is 19, confident and powerful - numerous storytelling opportunities here with new sets of friendships and possible romantic angles. In addition this would be a Superman coming onto the world stage with media really reaching into the lives of public figures. (as we have stepped away from following traditional reboot formula at this point we would be allowed to create another strong female character

1985 - Superman 2 marries

1990 - Clark III born

1993 - Superman 2 is killed in battle with Doomsday (in this world death is real and irrevocable)

2002 - spurred by events of 9/11 Clark III becomes an active and visible Superboy. He is 12

203-2010 - As he grows into the role of hero Clark III spends time with the Teen Titans and the Legion of Superheroes

2011 - Clark III becomes Superman 3

pushing too much

2010-10-30T09:39:00.002-07:00

long days filled with bright brilliant moments - brain is nearly on disconnect - fumbling to attach words that formulate thought - things i currently like - Blitz with Jason Statham and London Boulevard with Colin Farrell, movies based on books by the amazing Ken Bruen - how can you not like a movie that uses the Clash's "London Calling" as it's music - the compliement on my paintings from the pizza delivery girl last night was nice - if she is reading this and would like to see more she can email me at larryshuput@msn.com - exhaustion and a touch of frustration

The Last Ride of The White Man

2010-08-10T03:39:00.001-07:00

For the past 7 months I have freely roamed the night cloaked streets of Phoenix on my bike without the aid of a light. Officially this is illegal. Numerous times I have passed by the police without them batting an eye. I have spoken to other cyclists who travel at night, with lights, and they pretty much all have stories of being stopped. Of course these individuals all tend to be not of the caucasian variety or generally quite sketchy. Night after night passed, seeing many officers of the law and rarely so much as a slow down. I felt as though my travels would continue to be uninterrupted by the local constabulary. Of course all good things must come to an end. Tonight I was stopped. Less than a mile from home (my nightly ride is about 16 miles). I was advised that lights are required and the officer requested to search my bag. Everything came up clear and after briefly chatting with the officers (another had stopped to join the first) about the dangers of traffic and seedier neighborhoods I travel through, I was allowed to finish my nightly journey. It's a fun, strange world we live in, you never quite know how things will play out. I guess I'll install a light, though I truly feel safer without one

A Vertigo Obitutary?

2010-07-29T11:31:00.002-07:00

San Diego Comicon International 2010 has come and gone. I didn't attend, haven't since 2003. The size and scale have grown into something I am just not that comfortable with. The last time I seriously looked at going was 2005 and during the few minutes I got up from my chair to chat with my wife about going, the availability of the plane ticket I was considering went away. So too did my interest in attending. It also turns out that was the first time the place sold out and the fire marshall wouldn't let anyone else in. Time and money saved. As years progressed I have quite enjoyed reading all of the online coverage. Up to the minute announcements of stories and projects and certain artists working on favorite titles. It was great, even if some of them never happened. In particular I enjoyed reading about projects from my favorite imprint, Vertigo.

With Vertigo, DC Comics published fiction that interested and entertained me. I had long grown tired of guys and girls in tights beating the shit out of each other for no useful purpose. I looked for something with a little more thought and personality. Books that reflected the interests, intelligence and integrity of the creators. Projects brought forth with a passion, not in desire of a larger royalty check, or aftermarket art sale. Or even god forbid, a movie option. Vertigo provided this, an undiluted, not mixed with rat poison and stepped on seventeen different times fix for my comic habit. I am their target audience and Vertigo has provided what I need time and time again. It's a happy little arrangement.

For the past two months Vertigo has been announcing cancellations of titles. Air, Unknown Soldier, and Greek Street. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Vertigo is a publishing house in the business of making money. If a book doesn't sell, it does get cancelled. We are all adults and this is the way the world works. This time, however, we have a difference. Vertigo has done this before, it's a cycle. Cancel a few titles, announce and launch a few new ones. Wash, rinse and repeat. Except now we seem to be stuck on rinse, as in rinse away. Vertigo has not announced an ongoing title since SDCC 2009. At SDCC 2010 their is no online mention of any new projects. The major announcements are for an anniversary issue of Fables, Vertigo's ranking powerhouse, and Hellblazer, the longest continuously running book that's been launched in the last 22 years (for the record at DC the longest continuously published under a single titles are Detective, Action, Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman and Hellblazer). That's it. No hype for the remaining Vertigo Crime books that are in the pipeline. Or for Original graphic novels like Dark Rain, or the Dean Haspiel illustrated Cuba book. No extra push for The Green Woman by Peter Straub and painted by John Bolton. No mention of the book Janelle Jones is drawing for them that gets mentioned in her bio in the week of con release TroubleMaker (written by Janet Evanovich and published by Dark Horse, so it's going to get seen by more than a few people).

This silence is puzzling. And more than a bit concerning. Here's what I think we will be seeing in the coming two to three months.

1. The Retirement of Karen Berger. The heart and soul and driving force behind Vertigo, she is also the longest standing editor at DC. After more than 25 years it's not unexpected that she would politely step away, either by choice or request.

2. The dissolution of Vertigo as a separate label. I envision the statement going something like this - "Thoughout it's history DC has endeavored to bring a diverse and varied line of visual entertainment all under the legendary DC bullet. Not just Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, but Jonah Hex, Sgt Rock, Young Romance, Camelot 3000, Watchmen, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Atari Force and countless others. It is with great pride that we welcome Fables and Unwritten to this ever growing legacy."

3. The burn through of whatever's been commisioned and is too far past the kill fee stage. With the recent announcements for the 2 year old Sean Murphy Hellblazer mini-series and Warren Ellis's "Shoot", I think we are already starting to see this happen.

If I could see the future I doubt I would use that power to look at this particular outcome but it does look like the writings on the wall. I truly hope it does not come to pass. I have very much enjoyed Vertigo's output for the past 20 years. Vertigo has provided topflight work from creators like Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, Jock, Andy Diggle, Peter Milligan, Jaime Delano, Brian Wood, Brian K. Vaughn, Marcelo Frusin, Sean Phillips, Duncan Fegrado, Josh Dysart, James Jean, Paul Pope, Lee Bermejo, Paul Jenkins, Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon, Chris Bachalo, Ted McKeever, Jon J Muth, Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Barron Storey, Becky Cloonan, Steve Seagle, Dave Johnson, Michael Zulli, Clem Robins, Patricial Mulhvill, Todd Klein, Denys Cowan, Kent Williams, Warren Pleece, Danijel Zezelj, Jason Aaron, R.M. Guera and the list goes on and on. Brilliant and dedicated passion from each and everyone of them. And rarely do you see a useless bastard wearing spandex.

I love comics. Vertigo was created to provide a place as I grew and evolved, I do hope it continues.

digital warmups

2010-04-22T19:29:00.002-07:00

the inking project is complete and turned in, now i am stretching out my digital skills to prep my next endeavor

ink textures

2010-04-07T22:44:00.001-07:00

working on an inking project, the first i have done in a very long time. trying to find that magic with the brush again

Stuff that's in my head to write about...

2010-04-02T21:05:00.002-07:00

..and my brain turns to tapioca and my fingers freeze, and the words don't end up on the screen. Here's a list of these ideas, maybe i'll be prompted to produce.
* Dick Giordano 1932-2010 - still really processing how much his work affected me through the years
* Watchmen 2 - the idea of any kind of sequel, prequel or spinoff creates a very volatile reaction, i want to let it settle down in to concrete thought before jumping
* Mike Benson very kindly sent me copies of his two part Batman story in Streets of Gotham #8 and 9. i feel conflicted because these comics have promising ideas but the execution leaves a whole lot to be desired - my gut tells me this is not from the creative team - make my brain tread carefully or maybe just say fuck it and write what i really think - i will reread them before i do that
* Pirates and Ninjas - working on a short piece that initial spark comes pretty easy, breaking it has been kicking my ass - writing about the failures might get me over that hump
* Superhero comic ideas that i have had over the years that i'm pretty sure i will never fucking write because the execution and my general distaste of that genre kind lock it up
* short bits about a variety of practical jokes i have played on various friends through the years - of course they might not find it funny. Also some of them are still ongoing so they might read about it and not quite get the joke

music makes art

2010-03-30T23:39:00.002-07:00

occasionally i paint a figure or face - nowhere near realistic, stylized and filled with the energy and vibrancy of my abstracts- these are a couple of the ones i haven't just grabbed the white can and oblitered before packing up for the day.

lost then found

2010-03-24T11:50:00.006-07:00

last year if went through a horrific computer crash - i lost years of digital work - all that remains are a few things posted to my photobucket, these images pulled from an old blog archive and a few things i have on cds

Design stuff

2010-03-24T10:07:00.003-07:00

graphic design has become my passion. i've been fortunate enough to work with a lot of great friends and clients - these are some stuff from Phoenix Fashion Week, that I produced last year

texture texture texture

2010-03-24T01:22:00.001-07:00

Texture Tuesday

2010-03-23T11:36:00.003-07:00

as i create, i am always looking at how to produce new and interesting textures. using my camera i can add a new factor of depth and blur into some of these flat images. i could do this in photoshop but i think the camera adds a spontaneity that you can't hit undo on

even older and something new

2010-03-23T03:04:00.001-07:00

the wash paintings are a few years old. pushing ink around on paper always brings a smile to my face. the headshot is the reverse of a quick marker sketch on typing paper

older paintings

2010-03-22T12:24:00.001-07:00

these are some of my older paintings, when i first started working with sprays

abstract everywhere

2010-03-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

more images, more abstraction - keep it moving

three paintings

2010-03-21T08:24:00.001-07:00

these are three of my paintings. i love working abstract. it generates a very raw energy that frees my mind of all the daily clutter.

image whorery

2010-03-21T00:02:00.001-07:00

i'm going to try and create a habit of posting something. at least an image. everyday

i shoot some odd things

2010-03-20T09:24:00.001-07:00

this is an image i shot to create some textures.

cold pizza, warm beer

2010-03-13T21:27:00.002-07:00

actually i'm not. i reheated the pizza from last night and my beverage is dr pepper. starting to settle in to my new position. i think i can make an impact. it doesn't hurt that my other job wants to know if and when i can work shorter shifts on the same day i work job 1. also today got a call from a previous short term gig offering me at least a day of work, which would probably lead to the possibility of more. couple that with another previous offering me about two weeks of stuff and a resume i sent in before job 1 locked down, called hours after i sent inquiring. after a strange bit of time it feels like the thing i do the best is finding the correct footing again. i needed to humble and step away from the madness i had wrapped up in. reset the machine before a critical and irreparable blow up happened. i feel a thousand times better. it all comes around

the random world

2010-03-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

rode to work at my fastest clip so far. 8.5 miles,right about 50 minutes. pretty good for only being back on the bike a not quite two months. Over course life always throughs curves. walked out of the store to find my tire flat. it would not reinflate. had to walk the two miles down to Kmart and buy a new tube - i really recommend fixing a flat in their parking lot

we turn our attention to the quality of a television show. The Rockford Files, starring the charismatic James Garner. It truly was L.A. Noir. decades later it stands up - a remake is in the works - some of the original producers are involved - the question is who will play Rockford

writers and artists blending together to form a true team - comics recent failing truly has to do with the lack of those teams - partnerships have produced some of the best comics ever. i miss the days of those wolfman/perez - levitz/giffen - thomas/ordway - claremont/byrne - miller/mazzuchelli - barr/aparo - o'neil/cowan collaborations. Azzarello/Risso is the only team that i think fully lives up the that benchmark

before i forget or things i really need to write about

2010-03-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

traffic court. today. not successful. i repeat not successful. in other words i am out $175. i am irritated and frustrated. i still feel that i did not violate the particular law in the complaint. however i failed to focus on the details and structure of how that particular system works. in the instance of traffic court it really is not about justice. it is a revenue generation system for the city governments. i forgot that. judges are not impartial. they are employees of the city. by structure the more cases they overturn or turn out potentially equals less money in their own pockets. it is a downturn economy right now. as i said i forgot this fact. irritated and frustrated its time to move on. i do wander with all these budget cuts circling around, how much additional revenue gets lost when a city lays off, fires, or an officer resigns and is no longer available to appear in court. Could the scale of layoffs being proliferated by the media intensify the problem by a revenue gap that causes more job losses and perpetuates the cycle.

still probably thinking faster than i should. thankfully that isn't a crime

Saturday contentment

2010-02-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

a little net surfing today found me a great conversation between Ho Che Anderson and Howard Chaykin and a character update for Steven Moffat's fantastic show Coupling. Small details bring humor and interest to my life.

I calculated that I have ridden 624 miles since January 12th. I am feeling the effects. more flexibility and great strength. body and mind continue to grow stronger. quite the difference from eight months ago

Returning to the living

2009-10-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

Everyday I feel stronger. The challenges are far from over but I know that if I keep on fighting I will make it through. My old sensibilities are reawakening. Refreshed and more diligent than before. I am starting to find direction and purpose. Work. This is my GOSPEL.

Glittering Inspiration

2009-10-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

As always work is my lifeblood. For the past two days and probably tomorrow as well, I have be covered with glitter. I have been unpackaging and hanging christmas ornaments in a new store that I am working to set up. Long days but its great to be working. Summer vacation was nice but lasted too long. I am trying to be more disciplined and focus on writing and executing these ideas that i come up with

An old book has taken a new turn as a supporting character has changed gender. I like this change it allows for a new spin and I have a person in mind to base this character after.

Never ask permission. Just write it.
One more time. Never ask Permission. Just write it.

Today's Nude Idea

2009-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

Dinner is cooking and the clock is ticking. Thoughts and ideas are bubbling through the space between my ears. Electricty in my bloodstream will populate something useful. Words, women and whisky. I'm trying to put the first together while occasionally thinking about the second and avoiding the third altogether. Wouldn't it be great to just click a button and the world resets. I just wouldn't trust the memory purge

A Sensible Memory?

2009-10-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

How much can we trust what we remember? How often does the mechanism malfuncton? Battered and bruised by everyday life we trust so much to questionable equipment. Is is an accident when we call a woman by another name or did the tool not stand up correctly. I am actively pursuing committing words either to paper or to an electronic medium everyday. Build the habit and something will come from it. Whether it be and increased ability at Scrabble or maybe I will combine all these random bits and bobs and actually write a complete piece. The mind can always be stronger it just needs the proper steroids. The best one is activity. Don't let it go idle. That conditions affects most of the world and is encourage. Rise up stop it now. Thank you for taking part it my disease.

Old idea with a new twist

2009-10-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am slow to execute ideas. Sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes the events and timeliness change and the piece is no longer relevent. I had an idea breakthrough yesterday on a idea from a few years ago. Current events will play into it to give it a timeless feel. For me this is great as the main character is a voice i can just feel. I really want to write this now.

Where?

2009-10-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

I've been wandering. Seeing the sights. Trying to find someplace new to call home. I've covered a lot of ground that I used to know and saw a few places new. I feel healthier, but still get kicked by the dark now and again. I am trying to write. Getting better and better at making it an everyday occurance. The bulk of it is gibberish but at least I am feeling like I've made some sort of progress. Getting a grip on what it is I am trying to do.

A piece of the past/future

2009-07-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

I am actively working on a book. It falls into the memoir category as it mostly deals with the last year and a half. Starting with my marriage ending and covering the ground of the ever escalating craziness of the women I have been involved with. As I put the narrative together and flesh pieces out I am going back over older writings. Old journal notes and things that I have lying around. As I go over this it is starting to broaden and deepen the scope of what I am trying to write. I found the following in an old notebook. written by my wife it defines a good chunk of our last few years together.

1-30-04
We have been married now for 3 months, and I have a feeling that you have been cheating on me. On wednesday I said that you did not find me attractive and you never answered me. Before I told you about a dream I had that you were cheating on me. Even then you did not tell me that you were not cheating on me. I don't get any sex and when I do it isn't very good. It's like you're not even in to it. Like you don't even want to be having sex with me. You only do it to shut me up. Now that's not fair to you or me.

Gibberish 7 18 2009 6:51pm

2009-07-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Round squares wrapped into oblong holes. vacation on the sun - ooh it's a little too hot. wipe my brain of these helicopters gnawing on my chin bones. You can't hug your children with nuclear arms - love the tv- stupidity grows like a fungus. brain cells deteriorate - the mental challenge of victory is less fufilling than reality tv. poke your finger into the bear cage see what happens - blood spurts out into the air - a small mesquito sates its hunger in a puddle of your blood - Your womanly moment leads to a trail of ears you gave up everything for the man you loved. he laughed and walked into the ocean - the devil stood at the shore and told you that eating pussy would be good for your values. you danced with a martini in your hand and fell down drunk - your bloody knee felt no pain after the four vodka cranberry's you had knocked back - yes my dear you are an alcoholic- you are stuck in your bitter little world hoping your baby daddy will magically transform into prince charming. lets get it straight - shit like that doesn't happen not even on danny the street - no where in this world or the next three can that occur - open your fucking eyes and see the definite direction your life should take - black trees rise up out of the ground- tendrils reaching out to infest this world with something other than happiness - the sound of this movie is too loud - i prefer to hear the girl upstairs get fucked - she was funny she sounded so nice and polite until you got her to that moment - i wonder what her future brought her, selling children and running on the edge of life - when pushed to the edge - staring at the abyss what will you do.-- we each face these dangers - we need to know our own character find our heart -- the truth of our lives is in each one of us everyday. Chaos rules and crazy is everywhere, dust off the radar and watch the signals. Populate this landscape with new ideas tell new stories from the horrible to the serene. happiness is what we make it . pounding out words on this keyboard really do make me happy - i face the depression - i utilize the decompression - events are in my control this world is always mine. slices of black stain my life, some more than others - i am not your guardian i am just someone you know -
7:06 pm

Gibberish 7 17 2009 3:20PM

2009-07-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

my brain is damaged by repeated involvement with crazy - i don't think like normal people anymore - my higher functions now work in sprirals - inter connected tissues that weave an intricate shroud of comprehension and avoidance of complacency. Dance little frog as you bounce out of the window into traffic. fingers flying across the keyboard. randomized elements of design populate my visionquest. Alleviate my hunger with nourishment of misery. drink deeply on the suffering of others - war machines crowd heavily at borders. tensions rise - animal instincts are bound to take over sooner than later. for gods sake we do our work - have you really ever looked at that statement - how fucking egotistical. For the sake of God you don't do shit. EVerything you do is for yourself and no other. Particles of my life sometimes stick to my shoes - dna evidence of where i have been. do you really think you could keep up with my dementia. not on this planet. the quantum physics of this world don't permit fifth dimensional travelling. hyper context - underlying currents of lies. the truth fabricates an unfortunate reality that most can not stand up to . blasting typeface fortified against poor grammar. fly across the keyboard, selective assignment of letters. conforming to the rules of language. we speak mostly without words. dialogue brings pain. ideas given shape and form. your farm team daydream might one day become reality as you blister across the pond. skipping rocks on the surbace of your brain tissue. to be unseen, unheard. i am not invisible i am obvious. stated from the beginning i mean no harm - i reach out and conduct experiments with the lives of others. they mean so little. what value do they really have. pontification abounds. data streams run lite with true intelligence. controlled moments as the time fabric is resewn for a more positive result. ho chi minh's trail marched north not south. our brand of the big C filtered in . socio economic dominance as terrible paintings appear on the horizon. no these are not just my thing they really are just fucking horrible. a lacking morality at play on canvas. the combinination of elements and animals to justify ones pagan beliefs. pour acid on this useless bitch's mouth. she speaks of marriage as if it were a good thing. we falter and fail in our heartbreaking moments. the most useless organ in the body. meta physically a waste. discard it at a young age so you can step forward and obliterate the distinction of human. we are a stain on the surface of this planet. it is far past the time for the lava to erupt out of the bowels and remove our cancerous behaviour. we serve no further purpose. we are the pinnacle of evolution. of course yuo have to reinterpret what you think pinnacle means.
thank you

Eventual

2009-07-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

we fall to dust - discard items of sentiment - sever the tissues of connectivity

no matter what - the action and reaction motion of this planet continues

perhaps that will stop - what more do we offer - where lies our new inspiration

Comic Book Romance part 1

2009-07-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

Comic Book Romance is a title of a book I have been talking about doing for about 15 years now. In that time it has undergone a number of transformations depending on what might be influencing me at the time.
Once is was a murder mystery where an artist murdered the writer he was working with or so it seemed. that version actually had it being the editor framing the writer because the writer had done something cliche like sleep with his wife/girlfriend.

At other times I looked at it as the backstory of comics. The who's sleeping with who, who screwed over who on a business deal and a mixture of fact, fiction, legend and myth.

One other version tried to take the high road. Showcase the wonder and enjoyment comics can create.

I decided that I kept falling short on all of those. I was trying to figure out a way to entertain someone other than me.

This is my Comic Book Romance. Told at a point where I am spending the least amount on comics I ever have in my life. Very few things keep my attention. Very little is challenging me a reader. Most of the what I have picked up in the past year or so are design related - the first issue of Wednesday Comics is a brilliant take on current design merged with classic comic pages. Exciting. At least for me.

I love comics. Always have. The first comic I remember buying was Action Comics #491, the first one I remember reading was JLA # 172 - the death of Mr. Terrific. I remember Wolfman and Perez's Titans from the beginning. Perez drawing JLA. The transistion from Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes to the book just being The Legion of Super-Heroes. Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen telling the Great Darkness Saga. Barry Allen's wife being killed. Nemesis appearing in the Brave and the Bold. The Sword of the Atom - one of the first comics to radically reboot a traditional hero concept - after my own divorce that book makes so much more sense. The first Marvel I remember reading is Powerman and Iron Fist #65 - Kerry Gammill art and featuring El Aguila - New York City in the 80's - That is one thing about Marvel I have always enjoyed, real cities and when created by folks that were living there it came through.

So this is my new plan. Stream of thought on my history with comics. No prep, no research. Just memory and my keyboard. We'll see how far I get.

Friday and stuff that gets me through

2009-07-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a week can just be so undescribably uncomfortable without any major event occuring. This has been one of those weeks. For that i look towards things that I can always appreciate. here are a few
Dave McKean - One of the most inspiring artists working. Narcolepsy is a really compact who is dave mckean- flipping through its pages i taken away from whatever bullshit is around and seeing the thought and power of the image.
The Paperback covers of Robert McGinnis - beautiful art from a supposedly simpler time in the world. And damn beautiful women. Can't forget those.

My favorite web places

2009-07-08T21:50:00.002-07:00

We all do it. We scroll across the world wide web, looking for that something new. I find myself hitting several places on a consistent basis. I hit these because they are just that damn good.
http://www.surebeatsworking.blogspot.com/
Sean Phillips blog - It's crazy how well he draws
http://disraeli-demon.blogspot.com/
D'Israeli - just amazing
http://graphicnyc.blogspot.com/
Great interviews - obviously new york centric but there comes a point when you have read as many comics set in new york, it feels a little like home
http://www.matthewdowsmith.blogspot.com/
Matt's and old friend and some of the unpublished work he has put up really knocks it out of the park
http://www.kevinnowlan.blogspot.com/
It's Kevin Nowlan. Take a look and you will realize I don't need to say anymore.
http://www.scottmorse.blogspot.com/
Scott Morse is prolific. And talented. and just ridiculously prolific and talented.

A nice visual kick

a hopeful sunset

2009-07-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

this is one of my larger canvases. My medium is spray paint. I gave this to a friend who only sort of speaks to me now, so this one photo is all i have left of one of my best paintings so far.

Old ghosts

2009-07-07T18:23:00.001-07:00

In early June I suffered a horrific computer crash. Several years of created and manipulated imagery is now out of my reach. It is thought that the data still exists on my computer i just haven't spent the time and resources to confirm. A handful of my images exist out on the web - this is one I like. Time to make some new images.

Welcome to me rambling

2009-07-07T18:07:00.001-07:00

I need an outlet to show bits and pieces of my world. Like all of us my ego needs an occasional justification that you can only get by showing your ass to the rest of the world.

My goal is to put at least one thing up everyday. Principally I want to put up paintings so I can guide people to them. I may also post up design bits and pieces and probably some amusing life stories. I live in a Jerry Springer world so some of this stuff gets to be funny.

All right that's the first one, we'll go from here.