Sean Taylor's Posts

Happy Thanksgiving to my online friends and family!

Posted by Sean Taylor on November 26, 2008 at 5:44pm

Just wanted to take a moment before I head off to my in-laws house tomorrow for turkey, ham, and all the trimmings to tell everyone who takes the time to keep up with my online life a very, very happy Thanksgiving holiday.Whether you celebrate for religious reasons or otherwise, I hope that you will be able to find and focus on something you have to be thankful for spiritually, financially, family, emotionally, physically, psychologically, or otherwise.So, if you're able, spend some time with family and/or friends, eat something delicious and maybe even start a new tradition that brings people together.But for crying out loud, be careful on Friday if you plan to go shopping. Don't become a traffic statistic or become "that person" at the toy store (don't pretend you don't know the one I'm talking about).

Pimping some friends' work

Posted by Sean Taylor on November 26, 2008 at 7:13am

If you haven't checked out Martheus and Janet Wade's Jetta saga of graphic novels because you couldn't find them in your local comics store, you no longer have to wait. They're now available in your local shop via Haven Distributors.These are some really fun books, especially if you're a samurai or Buffy fan.

Oh, I'll be in a panel too, so don't miss it!

Posted by Sean Taylor on November 19, 2008 at 11:01am

Sunday, November 23, 20081:00PM - 2:00PMCOMIC BOOK CREATORS ROUNDTABLEA Q&A with many of our featured comic bookcreators. Want to know what it takes to make it inthe biz? Have questions only a pro can answer?Featuring: Herb Trimpe, Pat Broderick,Sean Taylor and more!1 HOUR - PANEL ROOM A

Just a few more days til Atlanta Supercon...

Posted by Sean Taylor on November 19, 2008 at 4:52am

Atlanta SuperconNovember 21-23, 2008http://www.atlantasupercon.com/Will I see you there?

My band, Nothing Regal, now on Facebook!

Posted by Sean Taylor on September 27, 2008 at 11:10am

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that the band I'm a member of, Nothing Regal, now has a Facebook page up and ready to go. Feel free to "become a fan" at the following link: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Nothing-Regal/32931750876Thanks.See ya there,Sean

Four Things About Me

Posted by Sean Taylor on August 11, 2008 at 10:27am

Four jobs I have had in my life:1. Comic Book Writer2. Shoe Salesman3. Fire Extinguisher Service4. National Director of Baptist Men On MissionFour movies I've watched more than once:1. Rashoman2. Citizen Kane3. Run Lola Run4. John Carpenter's The ThingFour places I have lived:1. Augusta, GA2. North Augusta, SC3. Alpharetta, GA4. Summertown, GAFour T.V. Shows that I watch:1. Robot Chicken2. Bones3. Eureka4. Doctor WhoFour places I have been:1. Chicago, Illinois2. San Diego, California3. Calgary, Alberta, Canada4. Kansas City, MissouriFour People who e-mail me (regularly):1. Lisa Taylor (my wife)2. Erik Burnham3. Gary Raisor4. Kurt BelcherFour of my favorite foods:1. Hibachi salmon and steak2. White Acre Peas3. Country Fried Steak4. Salmon PattiesFour of my favorite beverages:1. RC Cola2. Unsweet Iced Tea3. Coke Zero4. White ZinfandelFour places I would rather be right now:1. In Japan2. In Ireland3. In the mountains4. At my late Meme's house, on a writing sabaticalThings I am looking forward to in 2008 (or 2009):1. Losing weight and getting healthier2. Writing more comics and getting paid for it3. Seeing my kids grow up and become young adults4. Spending more date time with my wife

New convention appearance added!

Posted by Sean Taylor on July 11, 2008 at 4:28pm

Check it out: http://www.atlantasupercon.com/COMICGUESTS.html

I put DC on top in movies!

Posted by Sean Taylor on July 10, 2008 at 9:43am

Gene Simmons Dominatrix writer, Sean Taylor, puts DC on top in movies!Go check out my newest blog entry, in which I explain how to put the Distinguished Competition back on top in the movie department.Vain of me to try?Of course it is. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm right about it.Take a peek and see if you agree: http://www.redroom.com/blog/sean-h-taylor/how-dc-can-kick-marvels-butt-hollywood

Come see me this weekend in Atlanta!

Posted by Sean Taylor on July 8, 2008 at 6:35am

Atlanta Comic ConventionJuly 13, 2008http://www.atlantacomicconvention.com/I'll have a few copies of the Gene Simmons Dominatrix trade left, one copy left of the rare Fishnet Angel/Aym Geronimo story, and a few more copies of the out of print Fishnet Angel: Jane Doe miniseries while supplies last.I'll also be signing anything you might have on hand from your collection, shaking hands and kissing babies (and babes too, if they're willing!).And don't forget to get a photo and join the "Sean poses with" gallery on my ComicSpace site.

Steve Niles, Mike Oeming, Nat Jones (and lil ol' me too)

Posted by Sean Taylor on June 25, 2008 at 9:18am

Come see the new photos from Heroes Con in my "Sean poses with..." gallery.http://www.comicspace.com/seanhtaylor/comics.php?action=read&file_id=237480

On the road again -- Chicago is my kind of town!

Posted by Sean Taylor on June 25, 2008 at 9:09am

If you plan to attend Chicago Wizard World this weekend, don't forget to add a visit to yours truly on your list of things to do. I will not have a table, but I'm sure my good buddies Eric Burnham and Scott McCullar will see a lot of me (I promise not to be a pest, guys). Just look for the pudgy short guy with the mop of out-of-control honky-fro, and that'll be me.I'll be working the floor and schmoozing and networking.See ya there!

Heroes Con, baby! Come say hello!

Posted by Sean Taylor on June 18, 2008 at 6:59pm

If you're going to Heroes this weekend, drop by and see me, but don't go to table AA-1112, as it says on the website. Instead, I'll be partnering up with Christian Beranak over at table AA-409 instead. I'll be helping Christian out and have both his stuff and my stuff for sale at AA-409. If you want to say hello, please drop by on either Friday or Saturday since my schedule picked up a conflict that will make me have to come back home for Sunday, so I'll only be at the con on Friday and Saturday.And yes, I will have a few copies of the Gene Simmons Dominatrix trade available.

If a man is known by the company he keeps...

Posted by Sean Taylor on June 13, 2008 at 8:13pm

If a man is know by the company he keeps, then my name just picked up a lot more notice. I have been approved for a Red Room Author Page.Just in case you didn't know, Red Room is a networking and authors' site that can boast of many of the top writers and thinkers today, including Amy Tan, Maya Angelou, Salman Rushdie, Ivory Madison, Janny Wurts, Clive Barker, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Alice Hoffman, Peter Trachtenberg, Marc Tyler Nobleman, and even presidential hopeful Barack Obama.So what am I doing there, right? I'm just going to do my best to fit in with the other graphic novel and comic book writers like Danny Donovan and Ivory Madison (she's writing the new Huntress book), be "writerly" and "thinkerly" and occasionally have something useful and/or helpful to say. Please check it out.

Please help a fellow comic creator in a time of desperate need.

Posted by Sean Taylor on April 23, 2008 at 6:20pm

Josh Medors Benefit Auction @ ECCCWed, April 23rd, 2008 at 2:30PM PSTUpdated: Wed, April 23rd, 2008 at 4:30PM PSTOfficial Press Release23 April 2008 (Berkeley, CA) - Unknown to the general public, FRANK FRAZETTA'S SWAMP DEMON, RUNES OF RAGNAN, WILLOW CREEK, GI JOE and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT artist Josh Medors has been fighting cancer for the past several months. In his time of need, Image Comics and Frazetta Comics have stepped in organize an auction with all proceeds going straight to Josh."Josh is a good friend, father and artist. With the support from the comic industry that he loves so dearly, we can all help with costly medical bills and ease his pain just a little would be most appreciated," said Frazetta Comics Editor/Artist Jay Fotos. �š��žúWe are under a crunch, for the show is just a few weeks away, so anyone that would like to donate please contact me as soon as you can so we can get your donations there for the auction in time, we are also taking PayPal donations as well that go directly to Josh.�š��žùMany of the industry's finest are donating items to auction, including Frank Frazetta himself. Any other creators interested in donating are encouraged to contact Jay Fotos at jayfotos@cox.net.The Josh Medors Benefit Auction will take place Saturday, May 10th at the Emerald City Comic Con. If you would like to make a PayPal donation, please do so to jmedors1@insight.rr.com.Contributors thus far:Frank FrazettaJerry BeckBrian HaberlinTom BelandMark KidwellTodd McFarlaneNat JonesTony MoorePeter BergtingRichard StarkingsSteve NilesKody ChamberlinJay FotosRick RemenderChristian BeranekAhmet ZappaImage ComicsIDW PublishingZenescope Entertainment

Two strong op ed column blogs... (I think)

Posted by Sean Taylor on October 10, 2007 at 12:16pm

Coming from a position of Christianity, and a Christian position that seeks to reveal many of the fallacies of the conservative fundamentalist slant in my chosen faith, I found these two blog entriesreally interesting.

I think the article names in the links below say plenty all by themselves.

=================

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/10/who-has-betrayed-us-by-brian-m.html

From the above link:
I remember about eight years ago when then presidential candidate GeorgeW. Bush repeatedly claimed that he would restore honor to thepresidency, soiled as it had been by our previous president's infamousaffair. I remember hoping he would succeed. But a new kind of shame hascome to the office and to our nation as reports surface about ourgovernment's secret authorization of torture. We all share in thisshame.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2007/10/bush-has-given-christ-a-bad-na.html

From the above link:
However the vast majority of Americans, especially those who describethemselves as born again Christians, are solidly in support of Bush,and even question the Christian identity and commitment of those whodisapprove of Bush...

The only problem is that somehow hisaggressive American-ness has been identified with his being aChristian. But we in India cannot see the war as the work of aChristian.

=================

What I'd love to see isa candidate who is either a conservative democrat or a liberalrepublican, someone who supports the poor and elderly and opposes aproactive war but supports a strong military, who seeks equity intaxation across all income levels, but also encourages responsibleexercise of free speech in media and art without creating censorshipoptions (prefer a sort of responsible self-censorship as self-sacrificefor the greater good and a willingness to discuss what that meanswithout resorting to bipartisan name-calling), and open discussion onhot bed topics such as abortion and illegal immigration without havingto castigate either side as evil or "the enemy" (at worst) or stupiduninformed religious hicks or liberal nutjobs (at best).

But sadly, I don't expect to find that anytime soon.

Richard H. Goldwater, 1936-2007

Posted by Sean Taylor on October 9, 2007 at 2:00pm

(reposted from SuperHeroNews)

IN LOVING MEMORY
Richard H. Goldwater
1936-2007

Richard H. Goldwater, President/Co-Publisher of Archie Comics, passed away October 2, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer. Richard’s father, John Goldwater, was the creator of “Archie Andrews” – America’s perennial teenage “Everyman,” and his girlfriends “Betty Cooper” and “Veronica Lodge.”

In 1941, John and his business partners, Louis Silberkleit and Maurice Coyne, founded MLJ, the company that later came to be known as Archie Comic Publications. Richard joined the Company after college and, after working his way up through the Company learning all facets of running a successful comic book publishing business, took the Company private together with his life-long friend, Louis’ son, Michael Silberkleit, Chairman/Co-Publisher.

As Editor-In-Chief, Richard strived to produce good, clean, wholesome comics suitable for family entertainment. Under Richard’s careful stewardship, millions of fans all over the world have grown up chuckling at the antics of “Archie” and his friends. He helped make the “bff” relationship between “Betty” and “Veronica” and the “Archie,” “Betty” and “Veronica” love triangle an integral part of American popular culture. Over the years, “Archie” and his friends have changed with the times and embraced current fads. They’ve gone from poodle skirts and sock hops to e-mail and in-line skating. But the age-old teenage issues of dating, crushes, school, homework, sports and parents that they struggle with have remained the same. Nowadays, “Archie” and his friends interact with fans online at ArchieComics.com.

When asked about the reason for “Archie's” enduring appeal, Richard told the New York Times in 1973: "He's basically a square, but in my opinion squares are the backbone of America. If we didn't have squares, we wouldn't have strong families."

Richard worked tirelessly to make sure Riverdale was the kind of town you would want to live in. While the main characters have always been “Archie,” “Betty,” “Veronica,” “Jughead” and “Reggie,” Richard made sure that a diverse cast of ethnic characters were an integral part of Riverdale’s population. Just about everyone in America has at one time read an Archie
Comic.

Richard was instrumental in the introduction of new properties, such as “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and “Josie and the Pussycats,” and in the diversification of the Archie Comics product line via the addition of licensed properties, such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Sonic the Hedgehog.” In each case, Richard ensured that the comic stories fit with the company’s strong family values. He took great satisfaction knowing that Archie Comics only produced comics with content that parents could trust to be appropriate for their children. Richard was instrumental in expanding the reach of Archie Comics beyond U.S. Borders. Archie Comics have been translated from English into French, Spanish, German, Greek, Korean, Swedish Danish, Russian, Vietnamese, Hindi and Arabic.

Richard also assisted Michael with efforts to expand Archie’s core characters into other mediums – including countless “Archie”, “Sabrina” and “Josie” animated television series, a long running live action “Sabrina” television series that has been seen in 34 different countries, a “Josie and the Pussycats” theatrical motion picture and “The Archies” musical group that had tremendous success in the 60’s and 70’s.

In commenting upon Richard’s passing, Michael said: “I am proud to know that my good friend Richard played a major role in bringing America’s favorite teenage humor characters into millions of American homes. I will miss him profoundly, both as a life-long friend and business partner.”

Victor Gorelick, Vice President/Managing Editor, said, “I worked with Richard for almost 50 years. He passed on his enthusiasm and love for the “Archie” characters to me. He was my boss and my friend. I’m going to miss him and our almost daily talks. While he would come into my office to go over cover ideas, story topics and editorial direction, we also enjoyed engaging in lively discussions about cars, food, boats and the good old days.”

Richard is survived by his three daughters, Lisa, Taylor and Summer. There will be a Memorial Service to celebrate Richard’s life on Wednesday, October 10th at Zion Memorial Chapel, 785 E. Boston Post Rd. Mamaroneck NY at 2PM (914-381-1809). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to The Center for Hope, 590 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820
(203-655-4693).

Contact: Michael Silberkleit
Chairman/Co-Publisher
Archie Comic Publications, Inc.
325 Fayette Avenue
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
(914) 381-5155 Ext. 213

Karl Barth back in prison?!

Posted by Sean Taylor on September 28, 2007 at 11:00am

I don't know if you've been following this story about religious books being pulled from prison libraries, but thank God it has a happy ending... for now.

Yet another example of throwing the baby out with the bath water in order to root out the dangerous religious extremists. This kind of lowest common denominator thinking is just more proof that the collective wisdom of our politicians has dropped.

Common sense approaches like finding and getting rid of the dangerous stuff but leaving the other stuff may take more time and be harder work, but isn't it the more Christian thing to do in this case?

Again, just my thoughts. Your mileage may differ.

Now, I'm not proposing that these are necessarily Christian films (not that a film could be Christian or not, but the directors, writers, and actors could or couldn't -- yes, I know, it's a semantics

Posted by Sean Taylor on September 5, 2007 at 11:30pm

Now, I'm not proposing that these are necessarily Christian films (not that a film could be Christian or not, but the directors, writers, and actors could or couldn't -- yes, I know, it's a semantics issue, but an important one for me), but they are definitely films with a strong redemptive storyline.

The Spitfire Grill
The Apostle
Saved
The Shawshank Redemption
Chocolat
The Sky Is Watching
Black Snake Moan
Shadowlands
Cool Hand Luke
The Green Mile
Meet John Doe
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Poseidon Adventure
Luther
Spirited Away
The Return of the Jedi
Blade Runner
The Matrix Revolutions

What films do you think should be added to the list?

Mike Yaconelli was a genius...

Posted by Sean Taylor on August 27, 2007 at 3:40am

If you've not read Mike's book Messy Spirituality, you've missed out on something amazing and genuinely life-changing. Mike had a way of cutting through the garbage to get to the heart of the matter of what it means to have and live faith. These are just two quotes I found this morning as I was looking at some of the stuff he wrote. He died a few years ago, and the world is so much poorer for the loss.

I post these here because I think they have particular relevance to the issue of how an artist who is a Christian (note I didn't say the phrase "Christian artist") can and perhaps should approach his or her creative life.

=============================

For the Christian, there is no distinction between the sacred andsecular. Everything a Christian does is an expression of his faith.Hedoes not make choices based on the religious significance of thealternative. As a Christian he makes the choice that is a logicalextension of the values he has derived from his faith…

=============================

Whathappened to radical Christianity, the un-nice brand of Christianitythat turned the world upside-down? What happened to thecategorysmashing, life-threatening, anti-institutional gospel thatspread through the first century like wildfire and was considered (bythose in power) dangerous? What happened to the kind of Christianswhose hearts were on fire, who had no fear,who spoke the truth nomatter what the consequence, who made the world uncomfortable, who werewilling to follow Jesus wherever He went? What happened to the kind ofChristians who were filled with passion and gratitude, and who everyday were unable to get over the grace of God?

I’m ready forChristianity that “ruins”my life, that captures my heart and makes meuncomfortable. I want to be filled with an astonishment which is socaptivating that I am considered wild and unpredictable and…well…dangerous. Yes, I want to be “dangerous” to a dull and boringreligion. I want a faith that is considered “dangerous” by ourpredictable and monotonous culture.

=============================

Predictability and faith cannot coexist.What characterized Jesus and His disciples was unpredictability. Jesus was always surprising the disciples by eating at the wrong houses (those of sinners), hanging around the wrong people (tax collectors, adulterers, prostitutes, lepers), and healing people on the wrong day (the Sabbath). There was no Day Timer, no strategic plan, no mission statement; there was only the eager anticipation of the present moment. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to be the same as they were.His truth should be the same truth that they had spent centuries taming. But truth is unpredictable.When Jesus is present, everyone is uncomfortable yet mysteriously glad at the same time. People do not like the surprises—even church people—and they don’t want to be uncomfortable. They want a nice, tame Jesus.

Dragon*Con a week away! Is your slave Leia costume ready?

Posted by Sean Taylor on August 24, 2007 at 6:45pm

Just a week to Dragon*Con in Atlanta. If you're going, be sure to look me up at the table in the comics area, OR taking part in quite a few panels.

IDWhas come through for me, and I'll have copies of Gene SimmonsDominatrix and Gene Simmons House of Horrors for sale at the table, butnot an unlimited quantity, so they'll be first come, first sold. Also,I'll have several copies of the Nick Simmons Skullduggery book for saleas well.

Of course, for all the long-term fans I'll havecopies of the Fishnet Angel: Jane Doe comic miniseries as well, and afew remaining copies of the Shooting Star Comics Anthology for thereally die-hard fans.

And when you've finished spending allyou cash at the table, please drop by one of these panels that I'll betaking part in as either a panelist or moderator.

Friday

Lights! Camera! Pencils!
4:00 pm

Sex and the Single Superhero
7:00 pm

Saturday

Redemption - The Flawed Hero
1:00 pm

Sunday

The Write Approach – Scripting Comics for Different Styles
1:00 pm

Monday

The Tools for Ghouls
11:30 am

Once More with Multiple Printings
4:00 pm

So get your costumes ready and pay me a visit. I'd love to meet you.