Posted by David Duarte on January 6, 2010 at 3:04pm
So lately I've been drawing up the second story for Modern Christians and already planning on the third story. And I got all kinds of other story I want to write up and draw that happen in the future.But I do wonder, what kind of Christians would like Modern Christians? It's not a super-hero comic or a fantasy comic. Though a few characters do have daydreams that could involve fantasy cretures. The main focus isn't to save people, though it could help. Some of the main characters do try to save others. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they don't.It's a comic on Christian life, which is fiction though parts of it are based on my life and other's lives. It shows just about everything a christian teen or young adult can go through as a Christian and how they see Christanity and the world in their eyes. It's not for kids since theres some controversial things in the comic, such as where characters may question different ideas and values such as abortion and sex and they try to understand it from everyone's point of view. And they go into deep subjects involving social commentary, psychology, philosophy and more, just to become a better Christian and understand the world.But I still wonder if Christians would actually take their time to read it? Instead of passing it off as some kind of comic for kids like so many people do. I would like to be successful with it and gain some kind of respect like praised graphic novels get, where they get respected or honored by top critics or magazines. They know those works are well written and are treated with resepct as if they were fine literature.Or would it be easier to just say "This is not a Christian comic. It's a comic about Christians."? But I feel if I tried to put this comic into the mainstream or idependant comics, it wouldn't have a chance to be marktable? But then I feel that I have a better chance at putting this as a Christian comic because most Christian comics look alike in many ways and I feel Christian comics need a fresh new take on them.I really want comics, especially Christian comics to be taken more seriously, mostly by adults.
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I just wanted to let you know our new webcomic Tower of Babel is now live, and will have updates very soon! The art is done by Legendary Christian Comic artist Jamie Cosley and has done in my opinion his best job yet. You can view the webcomic at http://crownjr.synthasite.com/web-comic.phpRead more…
Something not very important happened to me a while back! (amazing, isn’t ?!)As I was out walking and praying, right there in the middle of the path was a leaf of a tree, suspended in space just before me – it was kind of strange.I stared at it for some time and it didn’t fall or even shift an inch. (?!?)I went on my way:- ‘It must just be hanging on to an invisible thread, surely.’A few minutes later and although I’d moved forward, I realized that my thoughts remained focused on this leaf.- ‘maybe it’s a miracle ?’Intrigued, I retraced my steps, determined to resolve this enigma,if nothing else, so as to be able to turn my mind to other things.I took a really close look and... indeedthere was a thread of gossamer that was keeping the leaf hanging in the air like that,(kind of disappointing, isn’t it?)I walked on, still lost in my thoughts, when I came across two passers-by with their dogs.I said:- ‘Say, I’ve seen something really weird. There’s a leaf that’s….’- ‘Yeah! Us too, we’ve seen it!’ they cut in (I’m talking about cutting into the conversation here, they weren’t a couple of serial killers!)I kept on walking.This leaf is really amazing! It seems to stir something in the soul of each person who notices it,At the same time, it’s completely insignificant!But you can be sure that there’ll be some hefty runner who’s so wrapped up inlosing a few pounds,that they’ll ruin the magic of it all without even realizing it.Fragile – like everything we possess.More than one year later, I was out walking in the morning with the Lordin the very same woods -I was thinking about certain events over the last few weeks, which are like so many waves, threatening to sink my boat.I find myself so fragile.Human beings don’t really grow, they just puff themselves up with pride, if they fast for 3 days, then they’refinished, completely without strengthA cold wind comes along, and they catch a cold, one TV program and bang! - the whole country thinks it has come down with swine flu.All that we have, our life and even our ‘ministry’,all this can vanish in one instant of carelessness.We need to put everything into God’s hands.Aren’t we only temporary managers of this world, after all?Jars of clay (even though these jars may contain incredible riches)Fragile - like I am with Jesus.I seek the Lord every day and I often have the impression thatour relationship is only a fraction of what it could be, (although this ‘fraction’ is sometimes vast)It’s as if this relationship hangs by a thread.I’ve met a lot of (former) Christians whose fire has gone out. Their lack ofhunger has emptied them of the richesthat they had within them.If I lost my relationship with Jesus, my link to Him, the same thing would happen to me.On the other hand,the insignificant thread that I saw in the woods wasamazingly robust,for isn’t it still here, in my memory?Alainwww.auderset.comRead more…
Back to the regular unsheduled schedule....whatever that means! I have a little time off from school to work on personal projects and kick myself back into walking with God, but I have uploaded most of the work I've done in the last few months, so please take a look!
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The Self Publisher Association (of which I'm a member on Facebook - look them up!) has released a new PDF mag called SP! Nexus. Erik W Hendrix there has done an excellent job in creating the publication. They are looking for submitions of books for review in the next and future issues. Also, if you are interested in contributing, let Erik know too. They are already filling ad space for the January issue, too, so if you have any interest in that regard, they would be happy to discuss. DOWNLOAD FREE SP! NEXUS ISSUE 1 -
http://www.selfpubmag.com Contact: Erik Hendrix ehendrix@selfpubmag.com
http://www.selfpubmag.com Tell him Scott A. Shuford at CCAS sent ya. :)
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There will be lots of change including a new site opening up in a few weeks and an expanded, revised version of SoW1 made available to the public very soon (book format and PDF). My partner and I are VERY excited, I'll have announcements coming up soon. Thanks for waiting!--Lisa
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Posted by Bob Luedke on December 16, 2009 at 1:33pm
Attention those of you out there who have previously exhibited at, or thought about exhibiting this year at Comic Con International at San Diego (July 2010). The small press deadline for applications were in late Oct.. The deadline for artist alley was in September. And to top it off...they've already had their hotel reservations for exhibitors! All exhibit space is already sold out!I have traditionally sent in my application anywhere from Decmember to Feb. 1st as the deadline for small press has always been sometime in March to April. But not only did they move it up by 6 months, they did not even have the courtesy to even send out an postcard, or even an email to previous exhibitors alerting them to this change!What is really annoying is that when you talk to them on the phone about this, they know they've got you "by the short hairs" since they have what everybody wants....and they are incredibly smug. When I told them, it would have been nice if they would have let previous exhibitors know about these dramatic changes in deadline, the response was...we told all exhibitors last year of the changes (which I wasn't one of because of how they screwed up the hotels for small press) and it was posted on the website. End of story.Anyway, if you'd like to roll the dice you can send in your small press, artist alley or comic-con table request and be put on the waiting list (don't have to send any money till they pick you...if they pick you). Good luck with that. And, then you can try to secure a room (battling against the 100,000 other people in attendence) when the CCI room reservations open on March 18th (see site for details). For someone like me, one without the other just doen't work.So for the second year in a row, I may be shut out of CCI after 8 years of exhibiting. But the good news is, I'm going to be going to almost every corner of this country in 2010 promoting Unknown God and I guess I'll just have to add the Long Beach Comic Con to the list to make up for CCI!bob-www.headpress.infoRead more…
I'm late posting this blog. I've been busy on the job, family, holiday stuff. I'm screentoning volume 3 and having a lot of fun with it. My publisher and I have been under some spiritual attack for some time now. I'm praying for a December pre-release.Right now God is growing me a lot. I've been listening to and I've been learning more about grace and faith. As well as our authority in Christ and the power we have. I recommend checking out Andrew Wommack MInistries. It'll challenge you and get you closer to God. Check out The November teen dates tv broadcasts in the archives for Grace and Faith. It changed my life!One main thing I've learned is we have everything from God already(healing, finances, spiritual gifts, etc.). When we pray we can believe in what we ask since we already have it. I can't explain that right now or have the time to so check out Andrew Wommack and plus Creflo Dollar ministries. I'll try to expound on everything that God has been revealing to me soon in other blogs.I'm about to go on vacation next month for 11 days and I'm praying to know what to do. I'll be home. So I'll be able to spend more time with my family, but also it gives me time to work on other projects like my children book idea and some xtra stuff for Allegories. But then I feel I should just take a break and rent a video game to unwind doing that time. Hmmm. I don't know.More later. God bless.
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original entry on The Sons of The Moon blog, posted Nov. 12 2009.So it begins... the submission process. Last night I managed to finish the synopsis, do a final edit on the query, and ship that bad boy out to five agencies. Last time I did this I did most of them in one giant bulk send. This time around I'm gonna only do a few at a time. There are a couple of reasons for this, but the main one is feedback. It's rare to get an ACTUAL response from an agent these days, but I figure if even one of them has a tip for me than I can learn from that for the next mini batch of subs. ("next mini batch of subs"... that kinda makes me hungry. Hungry for mini subs...)Also -- and this may be putting the cart before the horse -- I feel insanely confident about this query letter! I think I could get a couple nibbles with it. And I don't want it out at a million agencies if someone gets back to me about sending exclusive materials out or talking business. I want to be able to send my five out, receive word back, and either (most likely) cross them off my list or (here's hoping) give them the first look at it.On an unrelated-to-novel note, I've been steadily leaning towards an "actual" career in writing. I've even though about going back to school, but funds and time are limited right now. What would I do, you ask? Well, I'd love to write for an entertainment magazine or publication of some sort. So I've begun practicing a bit and trying to build a small readership. I will soon be a contributing writer at a West Michigan citizen-run publication called The Rapidian. My first article will actually be on my PIC Matty's Disciple 6 project (which, since you asked, is going absolutely splendid right now. The sample pages for the submission to Image are looking great and the colorist Andy and Matt recently landed blew my face off with his work.) Other than that venture, I decided to start up a serious entertainment blog of my own called Soundtrack To A Suburb. I will be posting on it as often as I can muster, sharing my own work as well as links and articles to other things I find interest or wish to comment on. I will have a couple different weekly features. The site will deal mainly with music (hence the title...) but I will occasionally dive into other media such as film and literature. On top of ALL that, I will use that blog to promote any other Book of Matches Media projects I have in the works. I'd like to keep this one to The Sons of The Moon and the journey involved in getting that bad boy published. But on Soundtrack I will talk everything else (and TSOTM I'm sure. I'm the most redundant punk on the web...)So that's the skinny. I've been a blogging fool already tonight. Make sure to check out the new Tumblr and keep spreading the word about things. Maybe someday I won't be the ONLY one who thinks that I have something interesting to say. :PGood night and good luck,G
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Posted by Bob Luedke on December 11, 2009 at 5:25am
Every since my children became of age to understand the true meaning of Christmas, I've shared with them something that has become a personal tradition for me each holiday season and that is I strive to go out of my way to help someone each and every day.Helping someone can be pretty widely interpreted and that's what makes this not only fun and creative but also very satisfying....since it brings us closer to how the Lord commanded us to treat our fellow man.It could be as simple as stopping and keeping a door open for a mother and her children. It could be pulling over to help someone with car trouble (even though you're in a hurry...and aren't we always in a hurry?), or going to walmart and buying a case of blankets and giving them out to homeless people in your community you run across.You get the idea here...it can be as little or as big as you want to make it. But once you start doing this, a couple things are going to happen:1. You are going to make a number of people very surprised and happy as they are going to receive something from someone they've never met (re: being a good Samaritan).2. You are going to be amazed how your internal radar will begin actively looking for people in need, while most times many of us (me included) walk through life looking to avoid conflicts or people that will slow up down in our daily rat race.3. You are going to feel fantastic! Since we are internally hot wired to be loving and compassionate to those in need, you will find that living life like we were meant to live, brings an incredible and largely indescribable feeling of joy. And besides that of course, the Bible tells us that we will be storing up treasure in heaven conducting ourselves in this manner.So start this new tradition on December 14th, with our new "Twelve Days of Christmas", where each day comes with a your gift of a good deed or helping hand given to someone in need. Keep track of them, write them down (in your journal or on your blog, facebook, CCAS etc....), make it a contest with you kids, your office-mates, your homegroup or ministry.But a warning.... one other benefit to doing this is, that you'll want to do it more, not just during the Christmas holiday, but every month of the year. So watch out...doing good selfless deeds, is contagious!If you take challenge on, make sure to send me a note (or post a comment)....let me know how it goes and what you accomplished.R.J. Luedkewww.headpress.infoRead more…
Posted by Matt Baker on December 11, 2009 at 4:30am
I've been doing the inks and colouring for a comic book project which I think has a huge amount of potential to be a hit. it's called DISCIPLE 6, and it's the brainchild of Matthew Rodriguez. You can find out more about it here: http://ideasfrommars.blogspot.comI've posted two pictures on my page that I've collaborated on; pencilled by Andy Budnick, inked and coloured by me. Check them out in the Disciple 6 folder on my page.
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Posted by Favian Ee on December 10, 2009 at 3:59am
Well, it's been several months since I've graduated, and I'm happily working as a 2D visual effects artist at Double Negative Singapore, the Singapore branch of the biggest Visual Effects studio in Europe! I really thank God for this job. It's got a great friendly and helpful culture, good hours and 10 mins by bus from my home!Actually I was never planning to go in to visual effects, my specialization in school being concept art. VFX was the last thing on my mind till just a few weeks before graduation. But as my friends and I prayed, the Lord led very clearly and opened this opportunity and gave me this job. I love my workplace and couldn't be happier.
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Posted by Sean Taylor on December 6, 2009 at 7:49am
Happy holidays! Hope you're having a relaxing and fun season. Maybe this will help. Enjoy two free mp3s from my musical past:- The first, a Nothing Regal recording from 2006, a Ramones-esque version of "O Come All Ye Faithful": http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8441196- The other, a Nothing Regal original, but an alternate recording, "So Long Awaited": http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8441194 (the CD version has Jeff singing lead, this is the demo version with me taking lead vox).- And a bonus song, a cover of "Christmas Must Be Tonight": http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8441195 (this one just streams, no download, sorry)Take care, and have an enjoyable celebration this season, no matter the name of it (except for you Festivus folks, ya'll are nuts, heh).
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Posted by Bryan Mero on December 4, 2009 at 6:33am
Comic book shops across the USA will be lacking comic books the week between Christmas and New Years. Diamond will not be shipping any new titles that week.Some stores will have empty shelf space and would rather have it filled if possible. We are able to have Spirit Knight in one comic book shop that week. They let us set the price, they will write a check for any that they sell and when the week is over, either give us back the issues not sold or buy them for half off the retail price. That's a pretty good deal.Please check with your local comic book shops and see if they would have room for your published comic!Here's a website to help you out:http://www.indycomicbookweek.com/-Bryan
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First thanks to all of you who completed the survey that was posted a while back. If you have not done so yet, Click Here to take the survey I created. The information will be used to help me position my books in the market to be used to share the Gospel.Now to the point of this blog. As a sat thinking about the various heroes today, I thought about how many are considered Christians. We have Nightcrawler of the X-men but that's about it. (If there are others, please let me know.)Anyway I thought what if Nightcrawler effectively witnessed to the other X-Men ... and they came to accept Christ. How would they're personality change? How would Gambit change? What about Wolverine? Post your comments.
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D6Imagine living your life, searching for a purpose, a meaning to it all, only to discover that in death you will finally achieve that purpose. Disciple 6 tells the tale of six such individuals from many different paths. Living lives of faith and compassion only to have them horrifically ripped away. Yet they have been selected and given a choice: continue to heaven, or return with a gift that could change the world. Long ago a being known only as the scribe, trusted guardian of The Domicle Archives (the physical records of all names marked for heaven and hell), was charged with forming a team to prepare for the coming wars. Throughout time he has set apart those worthy to serve.First there was Zacheaus, or Z [code name: Rook], a man from biblical times whose life and death remain a mystery to even those closes to him. Next came Robert Ward [code name: Vionne], the group’s field leader, a knight of medieval times stabbed from behind by his own power hungry cousin. Then there was Anthony Childress [code name: Hazard], a strong yet gentle man who grew up as a slave on an early plantation, whose throat was cut after attempting to escape to freedom. Moving ahead to Abel Kissinger [code name: Cordite], a young art teacher, is chosen after saving a young girl from a fire. Then came the 5th member, a unique man named Leonard Maddox [code name: Griffith]. Born into this world as an anomaly, Leonard possesses large tan wings, and the feet of a lion. He is captured by a group of mysterious men; he simply calls The White Suits. Leonard later signs on with the team and awaits the arrival of the sixth member, and instructions as to their role in coming events.This is where Patience or Passion, the first story arc begins. Leonard, restless struggles with waiting for the next member. He often takes his anger out on the evil that lurks in the city’s dark places. On numerous occasions, against Z’s instructions Leonard leaves the safety of The Sanctuary, a rundown church that serves as the team’s base of operations, in order to fight crime.When it is announced that billion-dollar corporation DOZTECH INDUSTRIES is set to begin production on project: Cypacor, robotic policing units for the city. Christopher Dozman, younger brother to DOZTECH owner Mitchell, has plans on using these Robots for his own twisted will. Christopher has been in and out of the insane ward, honing in his abilities to control minds.With the pending arrival of sixth member, a raped and murdered medical student named Grace Chambers [code name: Remedy], the team embarks on an intelligence mission following the Doztech company. While out near a Doztech warehouse Leonard spots men in white suits. Fueled by anger from his past, Leonard blindly follows them against orders. He falls into a trap that leads to the removal of his feet, and one of his wings. Before the removal of the second wing, the guys save him, and get him back to base, right in time for the 6th, Remedy, with her gift of healing, to help our broken friend.Disciple 6 is sure to leave fans of traditional comic art, team dynamics, complex characters, and exciting story lines begging for more. Though the religious overtones are prevalent and important to the authors, this is by no means a tale written only for religious thinkers. Nor should it be marketed that way. This is a story of faith – faith in a higher calling, faith in our own abilities and beliefs, and faith in each other. “God” is not a character in these stories, only The Scribe who acts on His behalf. If Hellboy, Spawn, Ghost Rider, and Johnny Constantine can exist in the comic realm, why not a team such as this? I am confident people will find these stories of struggles compelling, even if it happens to be the “good” supernatural being giving out all the cool powers!Disciple 6 is a creation of Matthew A. Rodriguez, with illustrations by Andrew Budnick. The entire 5 issue miniseries has been outlined and the opening act of issue one: An Ordinary Knight has been included in this submission. Thank you very much for this opportunity, and if you are looking for a comic that is authentic, and tells new and engaging stories, look no further. Welcome to the world of Disciple 6.
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Posted by John Cosper on November 30, 2009 at 8:20am
Looks like my last post here was a year ago. The book I wrote about then is now in print - not the pretty, comic book print I had hoped for, but a nice edition nonetheless."Demonica: Confessions of a Small Town Super-Villain" is a super-villain Christmas story of love and redemption. Having watched her dreams of world domination be smashed by the mighty hands of her arch-nemesis War Eagle, Demonica escapes to the main land and makes her way across the US to her home town in Iowa, a simple place where she was once known as Monica Deluna - just in time for Christmas!Once there, Monica re-connects with her mother and friends long-forgotten, and soon she is feeling the pull back to the faith she once knew. But soon, Monica discovers that old enemies have tracked her down, seeking revenge. And if that's not enough, War Eagle arrives, determined to bring Demonica to justice. Is there any hope for a recovering super-villain in Smalltown, Iowa?"Demonica" is an exciting first-person tale, told by both the title character and her egotistical foe, War Eagle. It also features photos of villain and hero, plus a hilarious bonus short story: "Pops Bender: Diary of a Super-Villain Life Coach."You can read more about Demonica and other works of fiction on the books page at www.johncosper.com, or surf on over to Amazon.com and pick up the book there!
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Posted by Bob Luedke on November 26, 2009 at 7:20am
Hey Gang:I just wanted to give you an update on my progress with Unknown God and share a few things I'm thankful for on the very special thursday morning.As of yesterday, I started the home stretch on this largest of all the Eye Witness GN's. I began work on the final 20 pages, which will wrap up almost 8 years and 400 pages of storyline.....YEA! Please say a prayer for me that I can do this justice as it requires me to really stretch my talents to their limits to bring this project across the finish line in a complete and satisfying fashion.Some things I'm thankful for...-My loving wife (Sandy) of now over 26 years, who provides me the enviroment that has allowed me to pursue the EW project.-That God has graced my children with health.-That the Cowboys play each thanksgiving day.-That 8 years ago God helped me discover my passion and revealed his purpose for, what up till then I thought, was a pretty wasted life.-That God continues to bless this wonderful bastion of freedom we know as the USA. And even though we are currently going through some tremendous trials and growing pains as a country and people, that all these experiences will serve to make us stronger and more thankful...as it did our forefathers (and mothers) who weathered the storm of the great depression.-recipes passed down through generations, like creme cheese based potato topping and liver turkey stuffing (it's on old German thang).-and finally...that when all else seems dark in our lives that we still have the ability to laugh!Happy Turkey day all...and be on the lookout for more sample artwork from Unknown God soon, as well as a pretty exciting announcment!bob-www.headpress.infoRead more…
Everyone knows I'm the world's worst at starting projects then never finishing. I've got Outcasts, Faith Noir, Simon Wraith (a comic I wrote 4 years ago), and now I've got story ideas for two more comics. They're popping in my head faster than I can create them. To be honest, it's kind of discouraging to have so many started projects and no completed projects.I think the problem is that I'm a one-man show. I'm trying to do the writing, pencils, inks, and coloring all on my own, and it's just too much for me to do in a reasonable amount of time...well, reasonable to me at least. I just get burned out too easily on one project and all too soon an idea for a new one pops in my head, so I start chasing that rabbit. I wish I could focus my energies on one project and finish it. Maybe it just requires more self-discipline on my part.I have, however, started a project that will most likely take the rest of my life to complete. I'm taking an Old Testament survey class right now, and it amazes me how epic the events in the Old Testament are. If they made a movie just about the books of King and Chronicles with the same budget that they gave the Lord of the Rings, I guarantee it would win a few awards just from how awesome the story is. So, after a little convicting, I've decided to graphically novelize (is that a word?) the Old Testament. I'm breaking the books up into individual issues, and if by some miracle I actually finish a book, I'll release it as a graphic novel. The goal is to have the entire Old Testament (or at least the historical parts of it) in graphic novel form before I'm too old to draw.I have no delusions of having something ready to roll in a short time. Chances are it will take most of my life, because there is so much in the Old Testament. And I'm not trying to make it rich on this either. This project isn't about making money or gaining prestige or any of that. It's about feeling convicted to give God the talents that he has given me. I'd ask that you pray that among all my other projects I have, this one wouldn't fizzle out. Pray that I would have the endurance to finish, and to finish well.Blessings to you all.
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