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something to share

Posted by angelo diaz on February 22, 2009 at 7:23pm
This will be my entry into the blog thing.Believe it or not,I've never really had to do it before but I feel since joining CCAS that perphaps I could share some of my experience in pencilling since so many of my friends here have the same passion for comics.The fact that we all have the same desire to promote the kingdom of God thru our various gifts mandates that we should exchange the wealth of artistic knowledge the Lord has blessed us with over the years.The secular region of the comic world has produced outstanding icons in the fields of illustators and I believe we,as the body of Christ,can produce the same caliber and better,judging by what I've seen in my short time here.The main factor I believe we need focus on is that if we wish to demonstrate this,we have to hold ourselves to high standards such as the ones many of our inspirations did in their time.What I mean by that is that just because many of the comic legends we grew up didn't know the Lord,that doesn't excuse us for the hard work,determination and endless hours of perfecting our craft that many of those greats did.Anyone who has spent any considerable amount of time reading comics over the last 20 years knows that the bar has been lowered over the years and that in many cases,good draftmanship,quality storytelling and dynamic anatomy understanding hasn't been given the priorities editors once held as mandatory.It's my hope that God's people will demonstrate in the years to come that we can produce a line of work that is saturated with an anointing resulting in greatness and excellence!!
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02.15.09 - Introducing Squad 77!

Posted by JCServant on February 18, 2009 at 4:26am
Cyberlight Comics Update 02.15.09: If you're looking for something fresh and new, check out the newest title to Cyberlight! Squad 77's a fresh look at Christian comics in general. Plus, we have a new monthly contest that anyone can join. It's as simple as drawing a picture. So check out our contest details today!Squad 77: http://cyberlightcomics.com/newcomics/Squad77/Episode1.pdfContest Details: http://cyberlightcomics.com/bboard2/index.php?topic=324.0Cyberlight Comics: http://cyberlightcomics.com
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My first blog.

Posted by Melchizedek Todd on February 17, 2009 at 3:31pm
This is my first blog of many I hope. I never really got into the blog thing, though I know many people who have one. I guess I felt who would want to read my thoughts and stuff.Anyway, mainly this blog will be about my graphic novel Allegories of the Way: Angels and Souls.Right now my publisher is figuring out how to market my comic. I'm also looking into things. Most likely I'll go through Haven Distribution since Diamond seems unapproachable now for small publishers.If anyone has some ides for me I would really appreciate it. I'm praying not to be anxious about it and leave it in God's hands. I'm very excited though and stressed. Haha.
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Connooga is coming to town (but it doesn't see you when you're sleeping)

Posted by Sean Taylor on February 16, 2009 at 2:34pm
I will be a guest at Con Nooga on February 20 - 22, 2009 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It will be a fun time as I hang out with fun-loving comics and pop media folks like Bobby Nash, Robert Freese, Daniel Emery Taylor, David Boop, Cristina Barber, Samantha Newark, Chase Masterson, and Linda Blair. Plus many more.For full details, guest list, and panel descriptions, check the website at http://www.connooga.comHope to see you there.
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BEST MANN FOR THE JOB: "You were robbed."

Posted by Chris Well on February 16, 2009 at 10:59am
This week kicks off the first arc in our comic strip Best Mann For The Job. Grace Mann is a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of the small town of Hope Falls, Tennessee. Even as Grace is sworn in to her new job, the deputies are grumbling -- but when a pair of desperate criminals drive into town and take a local family hostage, she has to step up and prove herself ...

Updated weekly at TitleTrakk.com.
Direct link: http://www.titletrakk.com/index.htm#bestmann

Previously on BEST MANN FOR THE JOB:
Preview #1: Sheriff Grace Mann
Preview #2: Deputy Todd Baxter
Preview #3: Rev. Hezekiah Mann
Preview #4: Elizabeth Mann
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Been a long while...

Posted by Vincent Callahan on February 15, 2009 at 6:39pm
Hey fam,Its been a long time since I've been on CCAS. I've moved from Alaska and have joined the rest of you back in civilization! LOLAnyway if anyone has been to my page I had been asking for assistance with finding a good artist to do some collaboration with me one my comic that i wish to put out on the market. The title is still the same, but I've changed a lot of the story line. I'll go into that later.I'll be posting a lot more and trying to stay in touch with everyone more. Keep me in prayer and I will do the same all for you.
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God is bigger

Posted by Chris Well on February 14, 2009 at 10:00am
I was once discussing the idea of doing a "Christian" story inside the familiar framework of a major comic book company, and the other person dismissed it. As he put it, if God appeared in this comic and saved the day, the reader would think it no different than if Galactus or some other cosmic being had done so.It was impossible to disagree with him on this point, simply because our heads were in two completely different places. In his mind, the concept of a "Christian" version of the familiar comic book construct was to simply include God or Jesus, or even Judeo-Christian ideals, inside. To fold Him up and shove Him (and, apparently, His Eternal Glory) inside that tiny, 32-page, stapled pamphlet.So if that had been the discussion -- i.e., how to include Jesus (Lord of All That Was, And Is, And Is To Come) inside a comic book -- then sure. The reader would have no choice but to conclude that any character on the page is relative to any other character on the page.But here is the problem with that course of thinking:God is bigger.Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of All Things, is Eternal. He is omnipotent. He is omnipresent. He is Infinite.His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, has been declared Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. There is nothing over the Earth, or on the Earth, or under the Earth, that is not under his jurisdiction. There is nothing that happens that is outside His control.And you can't fit THAT inside your fiction. No matter how hard you try, no matter how noble your intentions, it is simply impossible to shoehorn an Infinite and Eternal God into your little made-up story. The second that God or Jesus (or the Holy Spirit) appears inside your story and acts or speaks, you have, in fact, performed an act (albeit, unintentionally) of bait-and-switch.You may tell the reader that this character in your story is the "real" God, but it's not. It's a false god. An idol. A graven image.* * *But that's not even where I'm headed.Let's go back to the "Galactus" statement that the other person had made. Now, I would say that he was correct in the way that he meant, and in the specific context that he meant.But God is infinite. Try to imagine that:God is bigger than you.Bigger than your home.Bigger than your town.Than your region.Than your state.The country.The hemispere.The planet.The solar system.The galaxy.Bigger than space, bigger than time ... bigger, in fact, than anything and everything that He created.Now, if we are small and finite, that leaves a LOT of room for all kinds of amazing things in that space that exists between the frail things that we are and the Infinite Being that He is.Given that, if Galactus were to show up ... he is simply a component of creation. If Bruce Banner were to be gamma irradiated, Peter Parker bitten by a radioactive spider, or Thor came down from Asgard -- or, for that matter, if baby Kal-El was rocketed from a dying planet, Hal Jordan inducted into an intergalactic police force, or Barry Allen struck by lightning and doused in chemicals -- none of these events would contradict the biblical truth that GOD IS BIGGER and that JESUS IS LORD.Any character or place or thing that has ever been imagined -- any superhero, mythological god, urban legend, or grand, super-science scheme ... anything -- is smaller than infinite. Out here in the real world, should any (or all) of these things show up on your street today, it would be foolish to let them shake your Christian faith. They would simply be part of a Creation that points to an even bigger Creator.So would I put God inside a Marvel comic? No. Because that wouldn't be God. But to think of ways to use those characters to point to God ... now, that would be something.
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Scatsby the Bear

Posted by Strad on February 12, 2009 at 5:51pm
About a week ago, I had my first children’s book published online. I began the book back in the late 90’s at college, and attempted later to have it published (to little success). It was only recently that my wife found Sharing Books, and I eagerly gave it a try. The process was fairly simple, though I did have much of the work already done through the scanning of illustrations and converting them to a PDF format. Recently I retyped the book, and edited some of the artwork in Photoshop. After being reviewed by a panel at Sharing Books.com, I was informed that it had been accepted.Sharing Books.com - Scatsby the BearThe story of the book came about during my lonely “intellectual” period, in which I had become somewhat down about the prospects of the future. I still feel very pleased with what the story says and the bright style of the illustrations, which were created over the course of a year. I could doubtless do better at illustrating the book now, but I’m happy with the end result.
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Best Mann: Preview #4

Posted by Chris Well on February 11, 2009 at 2:00pm
TitleTrakk.com has now posted the final preview for the new serial Best Mann For The Job. This week we meet Elizabeth Mann -- Grace's mom, and librarian at the local library.Best Mann For The Job, the new comic created by my wife and I, stars Grace Mann -- the new sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. As Grace grows into her new job, she'll soon be caught up in all the weird crime, small-town politics, and church conflicts you can find in a one-horse town. (You'd be surprised.)Updated weekly at TitleTrakk.com.Direct link here: http://www.titletrakk.com/index.htm#bestmannRelated:Best Mann For The JobBEST MANN #2: Deputy Todd BaxterBEST MANN #3: Rev. Hezekiah Mann
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NY Comic Con '09

Posted by Allen Weaver on February 7, 2009 at 5:45am
Hey Everybody,Just wanted to let you know that I'm at the NY Comic Con. Friday was a blast and now I'm getting ready to leave for Saturday. I'll be posting photos soon.I'm attending to meet new artists and writers and to promote my new novel, SpeedSuit Powers. You all, if you've been to my page, know the main character, Curtis by his other name - Jetstream.The book is coming along well and is slated for release May/June of this year. It is geared towards the tween/teen urban market.You can check out the latest information and download part of the first chapter at:http://www.apw3.com/speedsuitTalk with you all soon!Allen
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Rob Liefeld's a Brother...Who Knew?

Posted by Bob Luedke on February 6, 2009 at 11:27am
I just ran across this press release this afternoon about Rob Liefeld's new Bible based graphic novel series, Armageddon Now: World War 3: LinkI didn't even know he was a Christian! Another CCC (that is Closet Christian Creator) comes out of the closet...yea!Here's also the website for the series.RJ Luedkewww.headpress.info
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Best Mann: Preview #3

Posted by Chris Well on February 6, 2009 at 8:30am
TitleTrakk.com has now posted the third (of four) previews for the new serial Best Mann For The Job. This week we meet Rev. Hezekiah Mann -- Grace's dad, and pastor at the local church. Written by me with art by my lovely wife, Erica, Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, the new sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. As Grace grows into her new job, she'll soon be caught up in all the weird crime, small-town politics, and church conflicts you can find in a one-horse town. (You'd be surprised.) Updated weekly at TitleTrakk.com. Direct link here: http://www.titletrakk.com/index.htm#bestmann

Related: Announcing: BEST MANN FOR THE JOB
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What should YOU be doing this year.

Posted by Demetrius Veasy on February 6, 2009 at 7:12am
I was told by the Lord this is the year to take action. I know you've heard the harvest is plenty and the laborers are few. Now this more true than ever. Now is the time we need to put our foot to the plow and work. How are we suppose to lead people to the Lord if were not in the streets. How are we suppose to lead people to the lord if we don't tell them. My goal this year is to personal lead at least 20 people to the Lord. At my conventions i plan on passing out free comics to the first 10 people who aren't saved. if you haven't told someone about the Lord today email, my space, or facebook someONE and tell them that Jesus loves them. You don't know who needs to hear that, the important thing is that you put in work. so lets keep punching that time clock people. stay blessed. LOVE OUT.
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three markets

Posted by Carole McDonnell on February 4, 2009 at 10:47am
Monthly Harlequin, a manga-style magazine for girls http://tinyurl.com/8b5znn********************************************Baen Books and The National Space Society have announced the third annual Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest. The word limit: 8000 words. Near futuristic. No space opera or paranormals. Deadline April 1 http://williamledbetter.com/contest"Tir Na Nog [Press] will be launching a new incarnation of 'Fantastic Stories' as a quarterly magazine, with Warren Lapine as the editor. The first 8.5" x 11" issue will have a January 2010 cover date, andshould be available in September 2009...Fantastic Stories will start reading unsolicited submissions in March or April of this year, and will be paying, on acceptance, 4-10 cents per word for new fiction (2 cents per word for reprints of storiesthat first appeared on the web). Checks will go out with contracts. While Lapine, personally, prefers hard sf and magic realism, he'll be reading all sorts of sf/f/h for the magazine."http://sfscope.com/2009/01/warren-lapine-returns-to-sf-wi.html
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God is so very good!

Posted by Jimmy Stewart on February 3, 2009 at 6:42pm
Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Christ!Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes regards my recent surgery. It was an extensive repair of my abdominal muscles and so far seems fine. Jesus has also blessed with an increase in my energy levels and motivation.I sincerely hope none of you ever has to endure these health problems. But whatever takes place, good or bad, you have to know that God is allowing it for His purpose (yeah, just like with Job). So in spite of all, give thanks and praise to our Lord and Saviour!Picked up some additional fonts from Comicraft during their annual January 1 sale. Am currently working on lettering for John Pierce's Jonni Star #4. Also a last minute re-write of the Captain Miracle Halloween story and associated changes in artwork. I know, Halloween is passed but I want to finish this before working on a new story.Keep well and safe all. Prayers esp. for our brothers and sisters in the deep freeze from last week's ice storm.In Christ,Jimmy Stewart
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The Trials Of Ted Haggard by Phil Cooke

Posted by Scott A. Shuford on February 2, 2009 at 1:16pm
I ran across this today on Phil Cooke's blog and thought there is wisdom here that applies to us all, so here you are... February 1, 2009 I watched the HBO documentary “The Trials of Ted Haggard,” produced by Alexandra Pelosi, (daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) Thursday night with an incredible sense of sadness. No matter what your opinion about former mega-church pastor Ted Haggard and his startling fall from grace, I believe it’s one of the tragic stories of our time. After graduation from college, Ted started a small Bible study in his living room, which grew into a vibrant, 14,000 member church in Colorado Springs. He became President of the National Association of Evangelicals, virtually being the representative for evangelical Christianity in America. He skyrocketed to success, and then gambled it all away with a meth-fueled extra-marital dalliance with a guy masseuse. Whatever demons Ted has been struggling with since age 7, when he says he experienced his first same-sex encounter, how such a promising career in ministry could come crashing down on the rocks is a lesson worth considering. Regardless of his mistakes, I wouldn’t wish his last two years of shame, upheaval, criticism, and frustration on my worst enemy. Pelosi first met Haggard when she filmed her previous HBO documentary “Friends of God” – an agenda-driven and rather inept attempt to explore the Christian “sub-culture” in America. As she cruised across the country interviewing every oddball Christian she could find, she somehow stumbled across Ted (before his fall) and struck a goldmine. Ted was 100% open and inviting, virtually allowing Alexandra access to both his personal and professional life. What she found gave me pause, even back then. That’s why her new film, “The Trials of Ted Haggard” is ultimately a documentary about the Christian community’s continuing ignorance of the media, and how that ignorance disastrously damages our perception in the culture. A previous generation of Christian leaders were skeptical or openly hostile to the news media. Christian leaders throughout the 70’s and 80’s were convinced the media was out to get them, so they gave no quarter, and closed that door whenever possible. That thinking became a self-fulfilling prophecy, because what they didn’t realize is that it doesn’t matter. The media is going to create a story, so by not talking to them (even when it’s risky), allows them to frame the conversation. As a result, over and over, when it came to that generation, the media version of stories rarely reflected the actual truth. So many Christian leaders in Ted’s generation have done the opposite - but found out it’s been just as big a mistake. Ted thought the answer was to allow the media 100%, unfettered access. As a result, in both documentaries Ted is interviewed in the most casual – even bizarre – settings: working out, with the kids, in church, – and even in bed. I remember when the original news broke about the meth and sexual encounters, I cringed when Ted stopped his car at the end of his driveway, and rolled down his window to talk to reporters about the homosexual accusations – with his wife and kids in the car. 100% access may be well intentioned, but it usually doesn’t help your case – especially when it’s driven by pride. Being caught in awkward, unprepared, or embarrassing moments – especially when the subject is so serious – doesn’t help anyone. It simply continues the perception of incompetence and dubious behavior. The better answer is a more strategic and respectful approach to the media, like I discuss in my new book “The Last TV Evangelist.” But that subject is another post. As a result, the documentary is really a heartbreaking film about the conflict between two mutually destructive identities: a married, former evangelical leader who’s orientation is apparently not exclusively heterosexual. Two years after he went public (while at the top of his game), he’s still struggling with who he is, and what he should become. It’s also a tragic look at how the Christian community reacted to the news, and our lack of resources and concern for re-building the lives of fallen leaders and their families. I don’t know the terms of Ted’s separation with New Life Church, but one of the great faults of the movie was using the term “banished.” As Patton Dodd, a former church staff member confirms at Christianitytoday.com: “The overseers of New Life Church — four pastors from other churches — asked Haggard to sign a contract agreeing to keep quiet and leave Colorado in exchange for a generous parachute: a year's severance for Haggard and his wife, a vehicle, counseling expenses, and moving expenses. Haggard took the deal.” In one of the many ironic and weirder moments, Alexandra (a less than brilliant interviewer) asks Ted “How does it feel to be in exile?” He answers, “Miserable” – as he takes a swing on the golf course. In its favor, the film does point out that many of the misunderstandings and “leaks” about Ted’s counseling program have actually been incorrect. By all accounts, Ted recognizes the seriousness of what happened, and genuinely wants to do the right thing. But when you can’t get a job, the struggle to survive and provide for your family supersedes almost everything else. You can’t help but feel incredible sadness watching his wife and children move boxes from house to house. Reduced to selling insurance door to door, the family has lived for nearly 2 years by the good graces of friends, moving from place to place about every 4 months because money is running out. When he applies for a job, he desperately hopes the interview will go well – at least until the employer Google’s his name. Seeing the impact on the wife and kids – who never did anything wrong in the first place - is tough to watch. One of the thoughts that occurred to me watching the show was that there is a generation of pastors and Christian leaders out there who have experienced great success by the power of their personalities, motivation, and personal Charisma. In a Christian celebrity culture, they excite and inspire audiences, and become leaders based on external abilities. But what they lack is sober responsibility. They are not personally disciplined leaders, forged in the fires of adversity. They don’t have to make the hard choices (they have “executive pastors” to do that). They have an attractive exterior package, but a shallow, empty interior. They don’t carry the “gravitas” of the position – or apparently even care about it. As a result, they have thousands of “fans” – but no real disciples. When that happens, risk seems manageable and even easy, because in most cases, they’ve never really experienced the consequences of bad choices. They begin to assume their charismatic personalities, loyal followers, or financial situation will help them weather any storm. So they take on building programs, mortgages, or private jets they want but can’t afford, dabble in sexual or financial indiscretions, take doctrinal shortcuts to help sell books, or in this case, assume that a gay encounter or experimenting with meth isn’t really a big deal – after all, I’m under a lot of stress, and I’m not accountable like everyone else. If Ted’s story does nothing else, I would hope it would remind pastors and Christian leaders just how just how much their actions impact the lives of others – sometimes, thousands and even millions of others. Taking on the role of pastor or spiritual leader is far more substantial than being a motivational speaker or “life coach,” and how often we forget that the scriptures hold pastors to a higher standard of accountability. On a somewhat different note, I was also saddened by the acclaim that Mike Jones, the gay masseuse who “outed” Ted has received. Because “outing” (either with or against a victim’s will) is held in such high esteem by the gay community, Mike now has an impressive book deal, and is talking about running for public office. How being a meth-dealing gay masseuse prepares you for public office is a testament to a celebrity driven culture where being in the news is more important than actual accomplishment. Secular reviewers look at the film and are frustrated by what they believe is Ted’s refusal to accept his homosexuality and change this view of scripture. But believers understand Paul’s frustration in Romans 7: 15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Faith isn’t about giving up because of the struggle, but continuing in spite of it. Or as a French philosopher put it: “God hasn’t called us to be successful, he’s called us to be faithful.” The end of the film makes note that the Haggard family has returned to Colorado even as new allegations have surfaced about another encounter previous to Mike Jones. But as in all cases of sin, redemption, and restoration, we can only hope that Ted continues to work it out with fear and trembling. Read more of Phil's stuff at http://www.philcooke.com.
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