If you're an aspiring comics writer or artist, Viper Comics wants to hear from YOU! Between now and July 27, they're welcoming scripts and art samples at Comic-Con International in San Diego ... or, if you can't make it to San Diego, you can email your submission to them! However, the rules are VERY specific -- read them here!Read more…
Best Mann For The Job #22: This week's one-panel emergency-worker drama is *almost* a swipe of Action Comics #1 -- because when I wrote the script, I got out my battered old hardcover copy of Superman: From the 30's to the 70's (Bonanza Books)*, pointed to page 16 and told my wife, "Try to make it look like this."
Alas, Erica held to such higher standards as "integrity" and "good storytelling" and "I don't want to get sued." So while the result alludes to the aforementioned comics cover, it is actually more original than I'd hoped.
For those of you who wonder what I'm talking about: Action Comics #1 is the 1938 comic book that introduced the world's first superhero -- Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. (According to Wikipedia, the cover to Action Comics #1 remains one of the most homaged covers of all time.) Superman, of course, spent the following 70-plus years making billions of dollars for his corporate owner. And, all these years later, the original series is still being published -- and is just months away from its milestone 900th issue.
Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. This serial drama aspires to the style of the classic comic strips, with the crime-bustin' chops of a rural Dick Tracy, the small-town charm of Gasoline Alley, and the emotional touches of The Heart of Juliet Jones. (Or if you prefer, think of it as a cross between T.J. Hooker and Northern Exposure.)
*(Note to professional writers and editors: Yes, the title of the book is grammatically incorrect. It should have been Superman: From the '30s to the '70s. But it wasn't. So shut up.)
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The Menorah in the Jewish Temple was sustained by the oil of the olive tree. The light of the Menorah was a constant reminder of God's presence.
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Created in Corel Painter.One day when Jesus was story-telling His listeners brought their little children to Him so He could bless them. Jesus' disciples rebuked the parents for bringing their children to such an important teacher. Jesus corrected his disciples and told them to bring the children near. It is the Father's (God's) heart, that his children, all children, would draw near to him.
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Okay so I am officially stretched to my limits project wise. I've got a first draft for Legends of Trinigon almost done, and work continues on Faith Noir. With that, plus a project I want to get started on for something my uncle wrote, I'm staying pretty busy. Unfortunately, that means Outcasts has taken a back burner. But thankfully, God provides. And old buddy of mine from high school said he was willing to do the pencils for me. So, thankfully, Chapter 2 of Outcasts will be drawn. It might not be a weekly thing like Chapter One was, but at least it'll be there. Stay tuned for more.Keep Soaring,Branson
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Peter Gonzalez from Crown of Life is taking The Servant north...and for being that far north and still loving the Chargers is a huge deal for that area..seeing that's is all raider nation and stuff..ha!Anyway...The Servant Comic book is also going with CCAS down to SDCC.Hoping that it will sell so I can keep moving forward...that's key.later..rc
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Something just occured to me this morning.Last year at CCI '08, I was the keynote speaker at the Sunday Morning Chapel service and Christian Comics panel. During my seemingly endless discourse, (I tend to ramble when you give me an audience and a mic), I challenged all those in attendance (about 100) to do something over the next year to expand God's Kingdom, whether it be in your home, at work, in your town or during your leisure time activities. My point being, that all of us...every one...are like God's DNA because we are unique. No one has our particular set of skills, educational background and physical attributes. We were all created for some purpose in God's game-plan. The challenge is to not only identify those unique set of abilities we have been gifted with, but then also discovering their purpose. To do so can lead to a satisfaction and joy in life that other more material things can never hope to match.I bring this all up, because part of my challenge was for the people in attendance to share those things that have accomplished over a year, with me and the Christian Comic Artists Society (CCAS) members at the convention in 2009.So I feel by not being able to attend this year, I may have not lived up to my part of the bargain. For that I deeply apologize, but that decision was taken out of my hands by forces which I had no control over this year.But the good news is, the CCAS will be there in force, both at their table in the Small Press Pavilion (M12) and also at that same Sunday Morning Chapel service and Saturday Spiritual Themes in Comics panel (see the program for times and room numbers)...so connect up with one of them and file your report for the Kingdom. Or, if you'd like, feel free to send me a message or by leaving a comment here, or at our contact page on the Head Press Publishing website.Or, hold on to that news (and add to it) for I will be on hand next year in 2010!R. J. Luedkewww.headpress.infoRead more…
COMIC CON 2009 NEWS!!!!.....Although I will have to miss this year's Comic Con International in San Diego, (the first time since 2003), I will be there in spirit, as my friends from the Christian Comic Arts Society (CCAS) will be featuring all three of the Eye Witness graphic novels at their table in the Small Press Pavillion (M12). So if you're planning on attending and wanted to see what the series was about...or just get a book you might have missed, they will be there for you.In addition, for those of you seeking other spiritual based programming at this mammoth event, the CCAS also organizes the Sunday Panel/Church Service, the Saturday "Spiritual Themes In Comics" Panel, and the Saturday evening Open CCAS Meeting! Check the Con program book for times and room numbers.Now everyone enjoy the heck out of this event for me and I'll see you next year!bob-www.headpress.infoRead more…
A simple guyI was just a simple guy, one of those you see everyday in the street … Nothing really special… I’ve done stupid things, nothing terrible though, and not more often than anyone else, a pretty normal guy in the end … (I haven’t led a gang or killed anybody, sorry!)My parents held a small drinks shop (coke, beer, wine…) and I sometimes worked there after school. I probably could have taken it over and had a settled life, as ordinary as it gets…But I was lacking something deeper, something that I could feel in my guts; something that would taste true …Discovering an incredible treasure!One day, at school, I was involved in an old paper collection. I went into this particular house that had some kind of Greek columns in the entrance. What I wasn’t aware of was that the family that lived there, (and that I didn’t even know) had been praying for me regularly. When I walked into that house, I couldn’t believe it: someone was crazy enough to be throwing away a whacking great pile of comics!Those comics were called “Tournesol” (Sunflower). I started to read them and something hit me pretty fast: “they’re talking about God!”God …? I knew it was something people talked about in those houses with a steeple on top and that are always closed, some thing for religious people or for a sect, but I couldn’t understand why on earth someone would be talking about God in a comic book (!?!)Then I felt a soft voice, tinged with peace, in my thoughts, telling me, ”Read on, it’s for your own good”.Day after day I literally devoured those comics that spoke of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ’s tremendous and incredible love for me.God himself was there in my room (he’s everywhere, actually) … and I told him: “I give you my life … I know it’s not much … but I’m giving it to you.”Ever since that day, my life has never been the same …New dimensions, a parallel world …I bought myself a small Bible and started discovering God as a friend. I would spend hours seeking him … and discovering new dimensions and experiencing incredible stuff! So that’s how in 1989, my existence took a turn for the better, I discovered a deeper sense of life; I was 15. That was the beginning of a life of adventure, (I’m not exaggerating!) that I can’t even start to describe now. Maybe next time …Alain gets started with comics …Alone, with nothing…On day, as I was attending a youth meeting, the speaker called out: “We all have talents - ….who wants to serve God with theirs? If you do, stand up!”I was at the back of the room, thinking. I honestly didn’t believe I had any particular talent, except maybe a collection of bad marks at school … I had no training and no job…That night, I was one of the only ones that stood up and I told God: “Lord, I can’t do a thing … I have nothing, but I give it to you … you do something with it…”At the end of the meeting, the speaker (he had spotted me earlier) asked me:“So, what’s your talent?- I don’t know, I have nothing special … I draw a little in my maths notebooks… maybe I could get into comics …- So that’s your gift? Ok, let’s pray!- Huh? Umm, er, sure, ok!”I didn’t want to spoil his evening.FireI wanted to share with everyone what I had discovered, what had filled my life. I wanted to spread happiness and hope in other people’s lives.So I started drawing like a madman, every evening, sometimes even all night long.I got into Arts School (that was really hard for me, I wasn’t really gifted). And I graduated 5 years and a half later with a graphic designer degree.Straight down from heaven!My wife and I then decided it was time I dedicated myself to fulltime drawing. At first, I started with working for several newspapers…But the more I drew, the lower the bank account went. Nevertheless, we knew we owed something to people. What I was doing was important and would meet a true need, because nothing similar to this had ever existed… We both agreed not to talk about our financial issues with our friends and family, but only with God.Alone before an empty fridgeOne morning, I opened the fridge and found it nearly empty, and I suddenly became afraid: “Am I nuts? … Can God really intervene and feed us?”I spent the whole day worrying. Fortunately, that evening, I ran into this verse in the Bible:Matthew 6:31-33: “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV)So I asked God to forgive me for worrying, and I thanked him for the food that would be provided for the following day. And I fell asleep peacefully. The next morning, an old man was at the door, his arms filled with supplies. For the seven years that followed, God literally fed us! I could give you so many more examples but … let’s carry on with our story.Discouragement …I was two months away from finishing my first comic book and suddenly, I just wanted to give it all up. True, we’d never lacked food, but with my worn-out shoes, my torn trousers and my army coat, (it did keep me nice and warm!) I probably looked like a tramp. I felt the weight on my shoulders of “what others must think”. People around us were going on holidays, owned one or even two cars, had a TV, bought whatever they wanted….whereas, I went back to the shop to return empty bottles hoping to collect a few coins. And as if that wasn’t enough, Eliane and I were going through a rough time in our marriage. Even though I kept on going to church on a regular basis, I just didn’t feel like praying anymore.Mister the devil …One day as I was wandering in the forest, “mister the devil” who felt “concerned” by my situation started to make me think: “Let go of all that, leave your wife, your drawings, your God. You’re a lousy Christian anyway." (As if letting go of God was going to solve anything!) I could have let it all go indeed, but not Jesus. Through the years, our friendship had become what I treasure the most. So I said to myself: “#*@ !! That’s enough! This has GOT to change in my head! I will pray till I find my inner peace again. »God came the very moment I made that resolution. I felt his peace in me once again. At the same period, three or four people I barely knew came to see me and told me they felt called with a mission to pray for five people in the country, and that I was one of them (???!!!) It sounded like a joke…The phone callAround the same time, the phone rang, and somebody I didn’t know started to tell me this strange story:- Sir, you don’t know me, but I’ve had a vision of you speaking to thousands of young people … what can I do for you?I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and stammered:- Well, ummm, I don’t know … what’s your job?- I manage an American firm- Hah! Well if that’s the case … could you lend me US $ 16 500 so I can print my new book?- I’ll get back to you in a few days …He called back a few days later, and said ok.My first book, “Idées reçues” (Conventional Wisdom) was self-edited and quickly became a success. It was followed by “Marcel”, “Robi” and “Conventional Wisdom 2” and “Willy Grunch” in 2008 (this last one won three awards in a Christian contest in the US).I received twice the first prize at the International Christian Comic Book Festival, in Angoulême, France. (The biggest festival of its kind in Europe)Some books have been published in China, the USA and several other countries that I could never have even dreamt of… however, I know fine well there are artists much more talented than I am.I receive numerous messages from people who were deeply moved and born again testimonies - and that touches me strongly.I’m just a simple guy, nothing special, but my Friend is great …Alainwww.auderset.comRead more…
The Christian Comic Arts Society (CCAS) continues our annual presence and activities at the Comic-Con International in San Diego, California USA this year.
Christian comics fans, amateurs and professionals are invited to assemble "for an informal time of after-hours fun and fellowship" on Saturday evening when Ralph Miley and Kevin Yong of CCAS will host a "Christian Comics Fellowship Hour." More details to follow.
CCAS will be at table #M12 in the Small Press Section and is sponsoring two panels.
The "Spirituality in Comics" panel will be held on Saturday 25 July, moderated by Leo Partible.
Serenity manga creator/writer Buzz Dixon will moderate a "Christian Comics" panel on Sunday 26 July. A short sermon and worship music will precede the Sunday panel discussion.
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I wonder if this was bound to happen. Before I head out the door, I check the bus schedule. It tells me I have three minutes to get to a stop two blocks away and around the corner. I haven't gotten my shoes on yet, but while I do I envision myself outrunning the bus to the stop. If I were in a more depressed mood, I would have shrugged it off and braced myself for a 20 minute walk to another bus that went the same way, but would be there faster than waiting for this bus to go back through the route again. However for some strange reason I actually deemed this fantasy feasable, and left the flat running. Sure enough the bust was already at the corner I needed to turn before I got to it, but I kept running to the stop. To my misbelief, I actually outran the bus (everyone in this town's complained about it's sluggish pace) and managed to catch it and was on time for evening service. Never has anything I pretended to predict come true until this point.I don't know if it was becaus I was persistent and Gods grace or just God's grace alone, but I finally predetermined an outcome and solely focused on it. Yet I'm hesitant to call it an accomplishment, for good reason. I've hoped and perhaps even prayed a silmilar outcome would happen for the conversations I want to make with people, the ideas I want to present of implement, and the things I create. Yet time and time again, naiveness, inexperience, ineptitude, incoherence, inconsistency, and instability have all gotten in my way (forgot to mention insanity). That is more the main cause of my antisocical nature than any disability I have, this developed fear that it's bound to go horrbily wrong if I imagine it to go another way. I've no gotten better at predicting the more antagonistic responses from my teachers or peers about me or what I say to the point that I feel I needn't say or do them. It's turned me into quite the apatethic layabout.It would be nice if I could have an event such like this turn out for my conversations, drawings, stories, and actions. I've learned however that my imagination alone is not enough, but knowledge and skill have to be executed in order to get anything to happen "your" way. I had the ability and the concentration to outrun the bus. I now admit that I'll never have the IQ nor the eloquence to manipulate a conversation or be able to intellictually handle any debate or disuccion on any topic, or the cooridination and mental orginization to make a good drawing. The fantasy of having millions viewing and admiring my films, comics, literature, tv series, and other narratives will most likely just stay in my head. My papa might disagree; but it's been appraent from all the ideas and ambitions shot down by my teachers, such as becoming a director or any sort of story-controlling artist, that I'll be lucky to even come up with a portfolio likable for a small-name advertising or kid's company! They only have high standards for entry-level creativity. I just can't fit into that mold, dispite my brain being only capable of having the imagination, not the logic, organization, or charisma of Walt Disney (not to mention the money, a lot of my dreams crumble due to that weakness).What can I say? Envisioning doom and gloom is my best talent, if not a most common one.
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Big news in the world of comic strips (and syndicated content): traditional media's Universal Press Syndicate and new media's Uclick have been combined to form a single syndication and licensing arm of parent company Andrews McMeel Universal. "This historic move brings together two industry leading companies to create a dynamic new organization," says company founder, chairman, and president John McMeel, "capable of supporting today's renowned creative talents and the superstars of tomorrow, propelling them to new levels of popularity and success, as well as looking to the future by creating new distribution channels and outlets for this beloved art form."
Since 1970, Universal Press Syndicate has discovered and brought to global markets many of the most popular humor, games, and editorial features in newspapers -- including Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, Garfield, For Better or For Worse, and Ziggy. UPS also handles advice features Dear Abby, Ask Dr. Weil, Focus on the Family and The Motley Fool, and columnists Roger Ebert and Ann Coulter.
Uclick, created in the late 1990s, distributes comics, text features, and games on desktops, the Web, and mobile phones. Its GoComics.com portal (lauded by the Daily Cartoonist) features the largest collection of comics anywhere on the Web, with more than 200 traditional comic strip and cartoon features from multiple syndicates and self-syndicated artists. The extended GoComics family includes Dick Tracy, Gasoline Alley, Annie, Liberty Meadows, Wizard of Id, and newcomer The Cardinal.
Following the reorganization, Andrews McMeel Universal now has two major branches: Universal Uclick and Andrews McMeel Publishing, a leading publisher of humor, gift, general trade, cookbooks, and calendars (including the two most expensive New York Times Best-sellers on record, The Complete Far Side and The Complete Calvin and Hobbes). The combined muscle of the two divisions gives Andrews McMeel Universal a unique position to offer access to multi-channel distribution for authors and artists.
We're now up to the 20th installment of Erica's and my drama/mystery series, Best Mann For The Job. Those with a keen eye may have noticed our subtle tribute to the legendary Osamu Tezuka (1929-1989), the first cartoonist to apply cinematographic techniques to Japanese comics.
In our original outline for this first arc of "Best Mann For The Job," our plan for the bank robbers was to simply have them jump in the car, get shot, and then lose their pursuers. But -- given what's coming up when they reach Hope Falls and cross paths with Grace Mann (who is, after all, the star of our series) -- we realized how much it would raise the stakes if these guys really caused some damage ... and, in the process, were more desperate themselves.
Once we hit upon the idea of stretching out the car chase, bringing in the gas truck and all, it brought to mind that Mr. Tezuka's artistic breakthrough is said to have occurred when he expanded a dramatic racing sequence in 1947's New Treasure Island. As such, it seemed appropriate to tip our hat to the man who went on to create Astro Boy, Black Jack, and Kimba the White Lion -- and transformed Japanese comics and animation. (Which, in turn, rampantly influenced so much here in the West, as well.)
Best Mann For The Job stars Grace Mann, a woman with a complicated past who returns home to become sheriff of Hope Falls, Tennessee. We like to think of it as a cross between a rural Dick Tracy and Gasoline Alley. (Or, for you couch potatoes, a cross between The Andy Griffith Show and Northern Exposure ... with a little T.J. Hooker thrown in.)
So I've been busy the past few days. A friend of mine and I are in the process of writing an illustrated novel (as opposed to a graphic novel) and are trying to finish a 1st draft before he moves to West Virginia. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get artwork done for the 2nd chapter of Outcasts, which will eat up a lot of time. Not to mention I'm also trying to take care of a new dog and get ready for Seminary to start up in a month or so. So yeah, I've been busy, but I did manage to get a few pages drawn for my Faith Noir project. Tell me what you think!!!
God has been blessing my...HIS business. I am continuing to get new work. What is even better, is that work is following with residual work. He has provided me with the program I had been wanting, as well as many other things as I continue my trek not just in the business but in school as well. This past week one of my returning customers gave me the chance to color a page for a pin up to be put into an ongoing IMAGE comic. Of course you can imagine how hard it was to not get excited on the spot. I hope and pray that God will continue to bless this business.-FWOF-
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Even though our 4 issue mini-series is done for Spirit Knight, we want to keep Sam's story alive. I will be adding a monthly journal entry for Sam and include artwork from guest illustrators...if your interested in contributing, please let me know.Take a look at Sam's latest journal entry called "Knight at the Museum" with guest artist Rich de Guzman.http://www.spirit-knight.com/skjournal01.htmlPlease let me know what you think!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAnnouncing Clash Creative – a Media Development Company Producing Christian Material for Teens and TweensMoundridge, KS – A new media development company, Clash Creative, Inc. was officially launched on July 1, 2009. Clash Creative’s mission is to produce Christian art and story media for teens and tweens (ages 12 thru 18) to draw them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Initial offerings will include graphic novels/comics/manga, and stories for both print and digital media.“We have a passion to see Christian teens have available to them entertaining media that doesn’t undermine their faith,” said Ken Raney, President of Clash Creative. “The Christian teen/tween is the most underserved demographic in media. We believe the Lord has led us to begin to fill that gap.”“Clash Creative is currently developing original intellectual properties but we will adapt existing properties, also. The bottom line, we want to produce excellence in Christian media for this age group. We also are working on a new business model for distribution that, we believe, will blow this market wide open,” said Raney.The name Clash comes from Ephesians 6:12, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." NLT###CONTACT INFORMATION:Ken Raney cell: 316-737-9724kenraney@mac.comhttp://www.clashcreative.netRead more…
Mission impossibleRight under my comic-writing workshopis a cellar filled with soil (in some places it reaches the ceiling)I'm digging in there with all my might with a pickaxe, shovel and wheelbarrow.The plan is to make a music room.This makes me think of the huge scale of the task I set myselfwhen I want to reach "Mr Everyman" with the gospel through my comic books(or to give my testimony on CNN, or become friend with the Chinese emperor, or harder still, to convince my wife what's the point of football)Everyday faithfulnessTo be honest, 'm not making much progress,but I keep digging for 1 or 2 hours without fail every day - I'll get there in the end!Strangely enough, I even look forward to sweating it out during these moments of hard work,because I can listen to the Bible on my mp3-player,these are special moments of intimacy with my heavenly Father*.(*by "father" I mean God, because my "earthly" father doesn't know how to fly yet)The little workmanThe other day, my little Benjamin -he's just turned 8-decided he was going to help me - he was really determined about it.This little fellow is really pleased to be able to work alongside me and chat.We have wheelbarrow races (he always wins!)Benjamin, he means pure happiness to me.Too small…Just one shovelful from Dad makes his small wooden wheelbarrow overflow!He stopped for a moment and noticed that I put a lot more into my wheelbarrow than he did in his.He tried to impress me by wheeling my barrow.After a massive effort, all he managed to do was to knock it over.My little man was disappointed:- "Oh Dad! it's no use, I'm not helping - my wheelbarrow is so small that we'll never finish"I stopped, knelt down and looked at him with love:- "Benjamin, what matters to me is not to finish the work as quickly as possible…but just to do it with you."What Dad loves,is to be with you…Alainwww.auderset.comRead more…
I need a letterer for a few projectssuch as some promo comic cards where there is a pinup on the front and a seq pg on the back. An a 6pg book for kids with a heat condition, and then 2 full 24pg books. but i can only pay $10.00/pg but i'm loyal so i'll send you all my work first before i go anywhere else.truthstormcomics@yahoo.com
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Alas, Erica held to such higher standards as "integrity" and "good storytelling" and "I don't want to get sued." So while the result alludes to the aforementioned comics cover, it is actually more original than I'd hoped.
Watch the trailer on YouTube at Channel StudioWell
Become a fan on Facebook
Uclick, created in the late 1990s, distributes comics, text features, and games on desktops, the Web, and mobile phones. Its GoComics.com portal (lauded by the Daily Cartoonist) features the largest collection of comics anywhere on the Web, with more than 200 traditional comic strip and cartoon features from multiple syndicates and self-syndicated artists. The extended GoComics family includes Dick Tracy, Gasoline Alley, Annie, Liberty Meadows, Wizard of Id, and newcomer The Cardinal.
Following the reorganization, Andrews McMeel Universal now has two major branches: Universal Uclick and Andrews McMeel Publishing, a leading publisher of humor, gift, general trade, cookbooks, and calendars (including the two most expensive New York Times Best-sellers on record, The Complete Far Side and The Complete Calvin and Hobbes). The combined muscle of the two divisions gives Andrews McMeel Universal a unique position to offer access to multi-channel distribution for authors and artists.
In our original outline for this first arc of "Best Mann For The Job," our plan for the bank robbers was to simply have them jump in the car, get shot, and then lose their pursuers. But -- given what's coming up when they reach Hope Falls and cross paths with Grace Mann (who is, after all, the star of our series) -- we realized how much it would raise the stakes if these guys really caused some damage ... and, in the process, were more desperate themselves.
Once we hit upon the idea of stretching out the car chase, bringing in the gas truck and all, it brought to mind that Mr. Tezuka's artistic breakthrough is said to have occurred when he expanded a dramatic racing sequence in 1947's New Treasure Island. As such, it seemed appropriate to tip our hat to the man who went on to create Astro Boy, Black Jack, and Kimba the White Lion -- and transformed Japanese comics and animation. (Which, in turn, rampantly influenced so much here in the West, as well.)