Suit up!

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 10, 2008 at 8:11pm

I am, and probably always will be, a dog person. That said, I have, by virtue of my sister's cat, come to appreciate the entertainment of cat ownership.

My sister's cat (who, though named "Winston," I insist on calling "Cat," because, let's face it, cat's don't come even if you call the correct name) has won me over.

I love dogs, but they are, if nothing else, predictable. Loving and loyal, but very predictable. I know when I come in the door, the dogs will get very excited that I have returned after being gone for months (though it was just the eight hours I was at work), and will celebrate my homecoming with much affection.

The cat, though standoffish (is that a word?!?), is simply more entertaining.

It stalks through the house, wary of the massive beasts (a Chow and a St. Bernard - yeah, our small dog is over 75 lbs!) that roam the house. It can become fascinated by a cotton ball or a string. And, every once in a while, for no apparent reason, the cat will go up to the Chow, rise up on its hind legs, and proceed to pummel the dog's nose in a very boxing-type of manner. Don't worry - it has no claws on its front paws, so it doesn't hurt the dog... a fact that bewilders the dog even more than the cat.

In fact, I've grown so fascinated by the cat that I've contemplated future cat ownership. Recently, I discovered something on the intertubes that has firmed up that decision.

What did I find? Check this out:

Yeah, that's right - Cat Armor. You can't tell me that isn't cool, 'cuz it is AWESOME!!!

Imagine have a cat decked out in a manner befitting his true nobility! Why, it would be like having your very own living Battle Cat!

It isn't only for the novelty, either. It is necessary, because I also found this:

Yep, gotta keep up with the competition, right?

I'll type at you later.

Baby Cartoonist in the making

Posted by Lee on February 10, 2008 at 5:50pm

Having trained in 3D I always knew that there was something that seemed missing - an empty space - something that was bugging me, and it wasn't until recently that I really realized what it was.

I had little ability to draw cartoons - or characters. It was after this realization that I prayed that God to help fill this empty space if it was his desire for me to begin creating my own cartoons and characters to create in 3D.

My prayers were soon answered when I found a couple of amazing books by Christopher Hart. It was these books that taught me how to draw cartoons for real and since I got these books this empty space seems to have disappeared.

The above is some of the results from using the advice given by Christopher Hart in his book "Everything You Need To Know About Cartooning" something that about a month ago I would never have been able to do!

I'm still very new to cartooning, so any advice and critism would be greatly appreciated :o)

Trinity (no, not THAT one!)

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 9, 2008 at 9:02pm

In the last few years, there has been a pretty horrible trend of comic books being late. I'm not talking a week late, or even a few weeks late. I can handle that.

I'm talking months late.

Sometimes years.

And, before someone even mentions it, no, there is no way that I think a good looking book justifies it being more than three months late. As a professional, it is not only your job to make the book pretty, but to complete it on time. To paraphrase Keith Giffen, if you can't handle a monthly book, don't take on a monthly book.

Fortunately, the trend seems to be receding. Good thing. I had instituted a pretty staunch rule in my purchasing of comics that allowed for one late issue every six months (late being three weeks or more). Any more than that, I dropped the book.

I've dropped many, many books over the last couple of years.

Anyway, many artists complain that they can't manage to complete 22 pages of comic every month. I respect that, if they don't take a monthly issue on. For example, the current Brave and the Bold series, being drawn by George Perez, is only slated for 10 issues a year. Perez knew the monthly would be impossible, and adjusted accordingly. No problem - we knew ahead of time. Kudos for Mr. Perez understanding his limitations.

But, you wanna know who really has my respect?

Mark Bagley.

Mark Bagley is an anomaly in the industry. It has been said that he can actually draw (and pretty well, I might add) not a single comic a month, not even two comics, but something like two a and a half.

That is about 55 pages a month.

That's huge. How huge? Well, given the original art is done on 11" x 17" art board, if you put all of the pages together, they would stretch over 50 feet long.

Of art.

Every month.

Bagley had an amazing run on Ultimate Spider-Man, doing over a 110 consecutive issues. All on time.

Bagley recently made the move over to DC Comics from Marvel, with rumors of a very high profile project.

Given the recent activity of DC Comics (that is, two consecutive weekly books, 52 and Countdown, each lasting a year), it was pretty easily guessed what Bagley would probably be working on - the next year-long weekly series from DC.

In the last couple of weeks, this teaser image was released, touted as Bagley's first DC work:

The exact details were not released until this weekend. Bagley is indeed working on the new weekly series. The series, entitled Trinity, will focus on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and starts in June. Bagley will be supplying 12 pages of each issue, with 10 pages of back up story by other artists.

For those of you slow with the math, yeah, that's 48 pages a month (given a four week month).

The great thing about this weekly series, unlike Countdown, is that it will be running parallel to the events in the current DC Universe. That is, it won't be tied in (or "tied down," even) to the events. It is in the DCU, but not really a part of what is going on in the other books.

Which should allow a lot of people to read the book without feeling like they have to pick up a dozen other comics each month just to make sense of everything.

The series is being written by Kurt Busiek, who is a writer I've enjoyed over the last couple of years on Superman.

I'll admit - when I first heard that DC would be doing another weekly series, I wasn't that interested. When I first heard the rumblings about Mark Bagley, I became a little more interested. Now, knowing the writer and the concept of the book, I'm fairly confident that I will want to try this book out.

Besides, I'm just completely amazed by the output of 48 pages a month.

Just amazing.

I'll type at you later.

My Testimony

Posted by Lee on February 9, 2008 at 1:50am

When I was born my life was threatened by many health problems; twice I stopped breathing in hospital and it was very touch and go as to whether I was going to live. However God did not take my life, but instead He put on a fierce fight and carried me through those dark months battling against my worst enemy.

I began my education at a special school for physically disabled children, from a very young age, unable to do many things myself I had to learn how to handle my disability. I refused to eat and although I was very much out of the danger zone my future was still very bleak.

During my time at the special school for physically disabled I grew stronger by the day, so strong that at the point of reaching year 8, (key stage 3) I was integrated into mainstream secondary education.

It was another 2 years until I realised what God had done for me. After asking my aunt lots of Questions about God and Jesus at 8 years ago, my aunt told me about her very best friend Jesus, and how whenever she had a thought that troubled her, or was in need of Love he was always there for her. She told me how he had taught her many things during the time he has been part of her life, but more importantly she told me that Jesus was waiting for me, and was waiting for me to become his friend and to let him into my life too!

She then went on to explaining that Jesus was desperately knocking on my door, he was waiting for me to hear him so that he could come in and save me, and bring me closer to God. That night my Aunty and I prayed together, we prayed that Jesus would come into my life and be my Lord and Saviour.

Once I had let Jesus into my life, I began to know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone brought meaning and purpose to life and everything that had ever happened to me became ever so clear.

It became clear that God had been with me right from the moment I was born. And although I wasn’t aware of His presence, because I did not have Jesus in my life, He has always watched over me guiding me along the way.

When I was at Danum Comprehensive in year 11, I was struck down by renal failure and my GCSE’s came to an abrupt halt. Beacause of my hospitalisation for major surgery to correct the cause of the renal failure, I was unable to sit my GCSE exams.

After I had recovered and my condition had been stabilized by medication and dialysis I was able to resume my studies and re-sit year 11 and complete my GCSE’s examinations. I passed 6 GCSE’s, allowing me to go on to Extended education.

After my GCSE I started a VCE in Business studies at Danum School. At that time I attended St. James’ hospital twice a week for Dialysis. As well as the dialysis my Dad and I were attending the hospital regularly for tissue type
matching. This was a series of tests carried out over a period of 6 months to determined whether Dad was the perfect match to give me one of his kidney’s

The tissue type matching had proven to be a success. Dad and I were the perfect match for the transplant, and a theatre slot was booked for the transplant to take place.

Once again studies were brought to a sudden halt for my surgery and recovery.
After I had recovered from the transplant I was ready to go back into education again, however God made it clear that the business studies course I had previously started in sixth form was not part of His plan for me.

Instead he led me to discover my passion for computers, and I enrolled on an AVCE in ICT (information and communication technology), where I learned the basics for professional use of computers.

During the course I became very good friends with one of the tutors, who told me about a course he used to teach. It was a Foundation Degree in Multimedia Technology, and although it was run by Sheffield Hallam University it was being taught at Wakefield College's Thorne's Park Campus.

The course involved creative technology in Graphics Design, Web-Design and CD-Rom applications. I hadn’t a doubt in my mind this was the right course for me as the transition between the AVCE to the Foundation Degree was so natural and effortless it was obvious that God was in control.

It was a hard 2 years and the going was getting really tough. During the second year of the Foundation Degree, I lost my Grandad to Lung Cancer. This affected the last two months of my performance and although I couldn’t see it then God was working to ensure that somehow I would pass the course. Eventually I graduated with a Foundation Degree in Multimedia Technology, but those last few months took a lot out of me. I was mentally drained and fed up of education, so much so that at the beginning of 2006 my faith took a nose dive for a short period of time. I settled for mediocrity and went job seeking.

There was so much more that I needed to learn, yet through all of this God did not let go of me and instead of allowing me to settle for anything less than His best for me. He blocked any attempts I made to get a job. Then just at the right time He prompted my Aunty, and through a long conversation with her that night God spoke to me.

Finally I began to understand the need to seek God's will in my life. I saw how silly it was to peruse a job, when there was so much more work that needed to happen before I was ready to leave education.

It was the last week that Leeds Met were accepting students to enrol, but even then it wasn’t certain that a place would be available. Now my faith and enthusiasm I once had previous to the Foundation Degree became stronger and once again I was back on track.

Praise the Lord I was accepted onto the Degree Course, in Multimedia Technology at Leeds Met, but not only was I accepted, it was decided since I had some experience in some areas of the Degree I would be able start the course in second year the first. This was a real faith builder, and my reassurance that God was in control once again.

During the Second year of the Degree in Multimedia Technology I discovered that I was born to love 3D animation; it was almost as if I had reached my destination and the very place God brought me to. I loved every minute of the second year of the degree and I learnt a tremendous amount of skills.

Then as if it were an action replay of the last year at Wakefield College, during the holidays between the second and third year of the Multimedia Course, my Grandma became very ill, and at midnight on the 18th July 2006 holding my hand, my Grandma lost her battle against Cancer. Only about 4 months before she passed away my Grandma became a Christian. Praise the Lord she was saved and now she lives a life with God in heaven.

Unlike my Grandad’s death, where my faith took a nosedive, this time it was strengthened, God made use of the bad experience, and during those intense few days at my Grandma’s bedside His presence was stronger than ever before.
Almost immediately after my Grandma’s death I began to attend Rothwell Baptist where my Grandma had attended on the few occasions she had been well during the final months of her life.

Since then, the Lord has given me given me a fellowship where I canshare my faith and enjoy being part of His body. My faith has grownstronger and stronger each day and Praise the Lord that brings me tothe present where I am now working on a missionary project with Tale2tell Mediawhere I am using the skills I have attained during my years of education 'to bring the bible to life' using creative media.

Vroom!

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 8, 2008 at 9:59am

It is amazing how TV and movies can influence us. Our way of thinking, habits, likes and dislikes are all influenced by the pictures on a screen.

For example, I recognized, back in college, that I had been hopelessly influenced by years of Afterschool Specials and movies of the 80's when I discovered that a very specific type of girl appealed to me.

Yes, the influence is often detrimental, but sometimes it is relatively benign. With the benign in mind, I offer this week's five.

My Five Favorite Cars Directly Influenced by the Entertainment Industry

Car the First - The 1957 Ford Thunderbird from Vega$

They just don't get much prettier than that, do they? When I was a little kid, there was no one - and I mean, no one - as cool as Dan Tanna. Watching him drive around Las Vegas in this car made a major impression on me. 57 Chevy? Bah! Give me the Thunderbird!

Car the Second - The 1963 Volkswagen Beetle from The Love Bug

Ah, yes - Herbie, the little car that ignited my love of the Beetle. I've probably got about a dozen books about the Volkswagen Beetle, and it all started with The Love Bug. Even though it would make absolutely no sense for me to own one now, I still want one. And, I would love to paint it to match Herbie, because the racing stripe is just awesome.

Car the Third - The 1977 Firebird Esprit from The Rockford Files

Actually, on the show, they updated each year with the current year model of this car, but the 1977 is the one I found that had the best picture. I loved The Rockford Files, and this beautiful gold car certainly enhanced my enjoyment of the show. It also is the beginning of a wonderful trend...

Car the Fourth - The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit

Major confession - I'm a huge Burt Reynolds fan. Not so much the current stuff, but the Bandit films (not the third - blech!) and Stroker Ace and Hooper... man, you could put those on a loop and I'd just watch them over and over. My love of the late, great Trans Am was cemented with the Bandit films. Totally impractical, too expensive to insure, and yet, I want one.

Car the Fifth - The 1982 Pontiac Firebird from Knight Rider

C'mon! You knew K.I.T.T. was going to be on this list! I watched this show with such devotion! I had all the toys, I had t-shirts... and, yeah, the thought of the new Knight Rider being a Shelby Mustang makes my heart hurt just a little. (Although, the recent announcement that Val Kilmer is going to be voicing the Knight Industries Three Thousand has me intrigued. The previous voice, Will Arnett, bowed out due to a conflict with his contracted voice-over work in GM commercials.) I'll probably still watch the new show, but I'll forever know that K.I.T.T. would never really be anything as boxy as a Mustang. He'll always be a sleek, black Trans Am.

Hmm... three Trans Ams out of five favorites. I guess the only thing left to say is, HEY, PONTIAC, BRING BACK THE TRANS AM!!!

Type at you later.

Baby steps.

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 7, 2008 at 8:02am

I have to admit, I'm very pleased with what this blog has been doing for me.

For me?

Yeah. I mean, I think it is great that I have some regular readers, and I'm really glad that you are enjoying it. In all honesty, that is secondary.

A while back, I got into the habit of not following through. It was a bad time in my life, and I let things slide. One day, I woke up and realized that the scales of "unfinished" and "accomplished" were horribly off balance toward the "unfinished" side. Life had knocked me down, and I stayed down.

I tried to return to my previous ways, but was completely out of practice. Granted, I was aiming too high right out of the gate, taking on huge projects in hopes that the mere scale might force me to move forward.

Yeah... didn't work.

So, toward the end of last year, I started thinking about how I could change my ways, to re-embrace my accomplishing (is that a word?!?) ways.

Everything was baby steps, and none too steady at that. After a stuttering and sputtering start, I started to feel like I was getting my footing. There was much prayer in this, so don't think it was just me pulling myself up by my bootstraps.

By December, I felt it was time to start thinking about a bigger step. I decided to create the Christmas card that I had thought about making a year earlier. When I finished it (even managed to do it before Christmas), I wanted to do something bigger.

I guess that's the result of actually doing things... wanting to do more.

I had, at that point, been woefully neglectful of my blog. I decided that would be another good place to start, especially with the coming new year.

Then, the idea of including a daily sketch came into my head. It would force me to draw at least a little each day. I decided to include that.

Here we are, a little over a month later, and I'm still chugging along. Some days have been harder than others, but each day I finish at least the blog, I feel I've done something. Plus, again, I've been adding things. Steps toward a healthier life have already started and a renewed passion for getting my webcomic off the ground are just a couple of the new things I'm doing.

I'm not finished... not by a long shot. As a matter of fact, there is a huge, massive thing that I want to do beyond all of these other things that is still waiting in the wings for me. I'm not ready for it just yet... but I'm so much closer than I have been in years. The time will come. To everything there is a season, after all.

For the moment, I'm happy to thank God for how far He has brought me in such a short time, and I ask for prayers that I will continue to be faithful.

I'll type at you later.

The Ache.

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 6, 2008 at 10:52am

There is no way to adequately describe some things to people that have never experienced them.

I wish I could. I wish I could make people understand the glorious feeling of being in the Spirit, to feel that closeness to God in prayer, in worship. I wish I could explain what songs like Geoff Moore's Only a Fool do to me.

Therein squats the toad, huh?

I think, though, that I wish I could describe the ache more than anything. That feeling in the depths of the heart for the lost.

I get the feeling that if I could put the right words to it, maybe even those that are lost could understand why we, as followers of Christ, feel so compelled to share with them of His love and grace, of His gift to us - His very life that we might be forgiven and have a personal relationship with God.

But, I can't adequately do it. The closest I can come is heartbreak, and even that doesn't come close to the same feeling.

I truly believe this ache is a gift of God to us. A small portion of the way that He feels about his lost creation. I say "small" because I can become overwhelmed to tears with just the thought of one particular individual... I can't imagine feeling that way for all the lost of the world at once.

The ache is a precious thing, though we don't always treat it as such. We push it down, try not to think about it. We forget about the lost in our own self-centered worlds. We let the influences of the world overcome a desire to share the gospel; influences that tell us the time is inappropriate, or the message is offensive.

God, help us not to listen to the world in matters this important.

I thank God for the ache that reminds me that the precious gift of God that has saved my soul is still there for others.

I'll type at you later.

(A request - my favorite Transformer, Optimus Prime.)

Fun (silly?) TimeFlyz Promotion . . .

Posted by Ben Avery on February 6, 2008 at 6:21am

Hey, everyone.

I recently discovered the cure for Writer's Block.

It's origami:

http://myth-understanding.blogspot.com/2008/02/cure-for-writers-block.html

So, yeah, in celebration of this amazing cure (and to get rid of excess paper creations) anyone who buys a copy of either vol.1 or vol. 2 of my graphic novel TimeFlyz will get a FREE origami fly, folded by me!

You can buy TimeFlyz here.

~ Ben

Animator in the making!

Posted by Favian Ee on February 6, 2008 at 6:03am

A few years back the prospect of working as an animator really didn't appeal to me because of the long tedious hours. I didn't quite like the prospect of living with that kind of strain and giving up my social life, especially since I already don't get very good sleep as I have sleep apnoea. But last year the Lord led me to take up an animation course, and His timing has proven to be perfect.

I decided to take up animation partly because I thought I should get some training and expand my skillset, but also because I read some graphic novels and instruction books that were done by animators. Their work had a totally different quality. There was a kind of life in the drawings that I believed came from the experience of animating moving characters with personality. Two of those books are Herobear by Mike Kunkel, and Creating Characters with Personality by Tom Bancroft.

When I decided to get animation training, a new school opened up where I live, which has its own animation studio. For some reason it was the only school I seriously considered applying for. It was partly due to the cost, and partly due to the duration of the whole course, but I felt very sure that that was the school I wanted to enter. So I applied and sat for the entrance test and got in.

Many things proved that the Lord had led me into this school, but one of the things I found most amazing is that some of the staff are Christians, and they want to serve the Lord through this medium. I dare say no other animation school in Singapore would have that and be a better fit for the work I believe the Lord has for me, which is to communicate Christ through comics and cartoons.

As I do have my own company which does illustration and design work, I haven't figured out how I'm going to get the industry experience after I graduate and run it at the same time. School can only teach so much, and in an area like animation, industry experience is very important.

But I guess I still have time to pray and think things through. I will graduate next year if all goes well, and I hope that by that time the next step will be clear as day.

Official press release: MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES

Posted by Paul Castiglia on February 5, 2008 at 5:52pm

NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: JMG STUDIOS

Paul Castiglia

paulc@jmgstudio.net

THE COOLEST COMIC BOOK YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER EVER CONFISCATED!

New Comic Series Brings ‘New Twist’ to ‘Old Testament’

FLANDERS, NJ (February 5, 2008) – JMG Comics, a division of JMG Studios is pleased to announce the upcoming release of its first comic book series, MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES.

MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES brings classic bible heroes to life in a whole new way! Drawn in the popular manga style and featuring “mecha” (robots), a mainstay of manga, this new series is sure to satisfy fans of imaginative action and adventure. The characters, themes and stories remain the same, only the setting has changed – to a futuristic world of aliens, robots and advanced technology!

“Just like modernized versions of Shakespeare's plays, by taking a solid, meaningful story and translating its elements as faithfully as possible into a new setting, we hope to bring out some of the more amazing details that might get missed by today's readers,” said co-writer Tom Hall.

The first issue, shipping in May, re-imagines the legendary tale of David, the shepherd boy who took down the giant, Goliath. The 32-page, full-color comic book retails for $2.25 US.

“David is a young kid who has to go toe-to-toe with a giant super robot covered in every conceivable type of weapon,” said Hall. “Other than that, everything is what the Bible describes, down to the small details that most versions of the tale gloss over.”

“The series is designed to appeal to anyone, whether religious or not” said Managing Editor Paul Castiglia, a veteran comic book writer and editor who has worked for Archie Comics among other notable comic publishers. “Our aim was to create an all-ages series with broad appeal, so that even those who consider the bible ‘mythology’ on par with Greek and Roman legends may embrace it.”

“The stories of the Old Testament are universal – they can be found among several religions and cultures. Our creative team consists of Christians who approach the material with a Christian worldview and we’ve strived to make this the coolest comic book your Sunday School teacher ever confiscated!”

He added that the series is meant to appeal to anyone who enjoys manga (especially “mecha”), video game heroes like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man, Transformers and other robot toys, and the animated versions of DC and Marvel superheroes.

The creative team for MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES #1: DAVID VS. GOLIATH includes writers Tom Hall (King, Robot 13) & Joey Endres (Megazeen), with pencils and inks by Thom “Kneon Transitt” Pratt (Disney) and colors and letters by Daniel Bradford (King, Robot 13). Also included are bonus comic strips by popular Australian writer/artist Dean Rankine. Each issue features fully painted covers by fan-favorite Jeff Slemons, who has done covers for several comic book publishers and whose work has been featured in successful ad campaigns. The series is edited by Paul Castiglia (Archie, DC, Dark Horse, Antarctic Press). JMG Studios owner John-Marc Grob (Marvel, owner-producer of FriendFish and various animation projects) is editor-in-chief.

Future issues will present the the further adventures of David as well as classic tales of such bible heroes as Daniel, Joseph, Jonah and others. Other series are in development, including “Beyond,” a horror/sci-fi/fantasy anthology aimed at older teens and beyond.

ANCHOR DISTRIBUTION is the exclusive distributor for the initial launch of MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES. Anchor will handle distribution for comic shops, Christian bookstores, libraries, churches, schools and other retailers. JMG Studios will provide flyers and wall posters for free upon request, and a customized ashcan at a portion of cost to help promote the comic book. For ordering and promotional information email paulc@jmgstudio.net

While Anchor will also handle reorders, JMG Comics is currently exploring partnering with additional reorder distributors.

MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES can be found on the Internet at www.mmbibleheroes.com and www.myspace.com/mechamangabibleheroes

For press, licensing/merchandising, movie/TV rights and all other inquiries, please email paulc@jmgstudio.net

MECHA-MANGA BIBLE HEROES 1: DAVID VS. GOLIATH, ships May, 2008. 32-page, full-color comic, $2.25 US.

# # #

Didn't happen.

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 5, 2008 at 4:36pm

Okay, I blew it big time. You know the album I was supposed to be listening to all this past week, so I could review it for today? Lose This Life, from Tait?

Yeah.

Didn't happen.

I kept putting it off, and by Sunday, I realized I hadn't listened to it even once.

Sure, I could have listened to it on Sunday and Monday, given a quick review... but that would not have been right. I wouldn't be giving it the same chance that I've been giving everything up until now.

So, no review for today. That will happen one week from today.

Which begs the question, what about today?

Well, let's call it "Time Out Tuesday," for the break from the regularly scheduled topic.

I suppose that random thoughts will do for today.

I saw about the last minute of the Super Bowl on Sunday. Just in time to see the upset. I'm not into football at all, but since the Super Bowl is usually such a blowout, it might've been nice to see this one all the way through.

I did see the ad for Iron Man... online, about four hours after the game ended. Absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see this film.

Speaking of, Iron Man is going to have some sort of crossover with the new Incredible Hulk film. Since both films are being made by Marvel, they can do that, and establish that both films take place in the same "universe." And, it certainly sets up a possible future Avengers film.

On the subject of the Hulk, I found a list on the internet that tells every reason that David Banner "Hulked" out in the old TV show (which I loved). Here it is. My favorites? 's 3, 24, 47, and 50. Man, I miss that show.

I'm still dealing with time issues. Never enough of it. I'm getting a little better, though. It is weird - its been a while since I was busy. I mean, really busy, to the point of just not being able to squeeze things in. I'm adapting.

I know I'm probably not in the majority, but I'm loving the Writer's strike. I find I'm watching very little TV, and what I am watching, I'm doing more passively - drawing or something else while it plays in the background.

I'm really beginning to enjoy the seemingly permanent scent of chlorine on my skin. Weird, huh?

I've decided to give Spider-Girl another try. Several times, I've picked up Spider-Girl comics, just because the fans are so amazingly devoted (saving it from cancellation on multiple occassions). I haven't been able to really get into it, but I thought, since I'm taking a break from Spider-Man for a while, I'll try it again.

Along with my regular blog, I am participating in an online reading club called the Steve Austin Book Club. We look at one main book each month, and the participants post things in the downtime. Check it out.

It seems that J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter from DC Comics, may be the next character to take the not-so-permanent dirt nap in the upcoming Final Crisis. Of course. He's one of the characters that was part of the Justice League International that I enjoyed so much. To tell the truth, since they've messed with the character so much over the last couple of years, it may not be that big a loss. It just amazes me that DC didn't take advantage of the changes of the character that were established in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon. It really made the character better by taking away some of his powers (his list of powers was basically everything Superman could do, plus a lot more).

The Watchmen movie is coming. I love the comic book series so much that I dread this. I can't help it. I just find The Watchmen to be the finest use of the comic book medium, and to see it shoe-horned into a 2 hour film? My hopes are not high.

I've seen the preview for the new parody film Superhero Movie. I hate that it looks pretty good, because I know it will stink. Yet, I will eventually see it. Ugh.

Will Smith will be playing a superhero in the upcoming Hancock. The preview looked pretty good, but I'll have to wait for more on this one.

Hmm... I think that'll do for now.

I'll type at you later, folks.

Nobody Likes Tony Pony

Posted by Donald Ensign on February 5, 2008 at 7:04am

Nobody Likes Tony Pony, 2007, self-published, Jamie Cosley (writer, artist),
black-and-white, full-sized comic book, 24 pages, $2.50.

I keep wanting to equate these 4-panel comic strips with Scott Adams'
Dilbert, but it's difficult. Office politics and cynicism are both on
display here, but Tony isn't defined by his occupation like Dilbert is, and
his innocence is refreshing, while Dilbert's detached resignation from
sanity, although still pretty funny, seems a bit stale after all these
years. But the incorrectly named strip, collected here in large form (these
aren't the microscopic panels crammed into a few pages between the personals and the car dealer advertisements, these are full-page strips, two panels on top of two panels for the most part), shows Jamie Cosley's solid grasp of the medium. It takes about half the book until he devolves into mildly
scatological humor (his final strip is especially prescient), and even then
the collection doesn't spiral downward so much as dip at points. Cosley
truly does know how to deliver the goods, with the only "dead space" being
the cover, and even that is awful purty (the uncredited design talents of
trusty sidekick, I mean, 'frequent collaborator', Josh Alves on display).
Cosley gives inside-front-cover and inside-back-cover one-panels both with
good gags and a back cover color strip. Nothing but comedy.

All that having been said (or written), this is not an evangelistic attempt
by any stretch of the imagination. The main body of the book touches on
biblical themes a few times but never to get a message through to any
supposed audience, just to add a spiritual dimension to our equine
protagonist. The one-panels brush the subject once again each, but Jack
Chick this ain't. Cosley sticks to what he knows best, which is 'funny with
a touch of the pre-adolescent', but the strip works best when he sticks to
defining the cast's quirks, and the visuals for each character work very
well, keeping within his well-established forte. Those enjoying the
art-style but wanting a more serious and/or overtly Christian story need
look no further than Cosley's own More Than Sparrows, which personally comes with a high recommend. But suffice it to say that somebody must like Tony Pony, or else Nobody Likes Tony Pony would never have seen the
light of day.

Review by Steve MacDonald

jamiecosley.blogspot.com/

On the Edge...

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 4, 2008 at 12:14pm

People often talk about opportunity in terms of doors.

You know - when God closes one door, he opens another, opportunity knocks (presumably on a door), that sorta deal.

Alexander Graham Bell even elaborated on the traditional idea when he said:

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.

Of course, there is also:

When God closes a door, look for a window.

... which actually seems like an effort to get around God's will, as does the far more extreme:

When God closes a door, grab an axe!

I think of opportunity in a slightly different way. Thanks, in part, to Star Trek.

There is a classic episode of Star Trek from the original series titled City on the Edge of Forever. I won't go into the episode too much, but, if you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It might be the best episode of the entire series.

Anyway, in the episode, the crew comes in contact with the Guardian of Forever.

The Guardian is like a giant gateway through which history can be viewed. It shows various images (through the glory of stock footage) of the Revolutionary War, Ancient Rome, etc., etc., etc.

Well, in the episode, Dr. McCoy is a little out of his mind, and as these images are passing, he leaps into them, travelling back to the past (the 1930's).

I love this image.
In the episode, Kirk and Spock follow, and eventually bring him back. But, that doesn't really have anything to do with what I'm talking about.

The Guardian is what I want to talk about. When the Guardian is displayed different images of history, I kind of thought of that as a better idea of opportunity than a static room or hallway with opening and closing doors.

I prefer to think of us standing at a gateway like that, with various opportunities passing in front of us. Only, we have no control at all over the things in the gate. The opportunities present themselves, some passing by quickly, some lingering, but all finite.

In the gate, we would see little things - the chance to help a friend move, the chance to give to a special missions offering, the chance to make a call to someone we haven't talked to in a while. We would also see big things - the chance to teach a Sunday School Class, the chance to witness to a lost friend, the chance to enter a full time vocation in ministry.

But, we don't wait in silence. We also hear the loving voice of our God, as in the first part of Isaiah 6, verse 8:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And, we stand there, at that gateway, and watch the opportunities pass by.

Or, we make the leap.

That's what they literally did in Star Trek, and what we, figuratively do in real life. Kirk leaped in to get McCoy back. We take the leap of faith, jumping at the chance to serve the Lord.

That leap is the response, also from Isaiah 6, verse 8:

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Here's hoping that we all have the courage to make that leap toward each of the opportunities that God puts before us.

Type at you later.

(A request - Green Lantern playing baseball. Yep. It takes all kinds.)

My First Comic

Posted by Allison Oh on February 3, 2008 at 5:21pm

I did this for a term paper replacement last year.
Because of my time constraints, it's both short and nowhere near as professionally polished as I'd like, but my sights might be set a tad too high, given my skill level.
God blessed me with some knack--it'll be a while before knack is skill.

The Girl and the Tower

Completed in 100 hours and colored greyscale in Photoshop.
Self-printed via Kinkos (only 5 copies in existence, whoo hoo!)

Synopsis:
A combination of Alice in Wonderland and a Child's First Book of Modern Philosophers, it tells a story about a girl who starts out lost in the woods and seeks guidance from three philosophers in the Great White Tower of Philosophy.

My Thoughts:
I had a lot of trouble with the dialogue and I felt, in all stages, that it was far too short to run smoothly.
I'm also not terribly happy with her less than consistent rendering and the strange inking.
I hope to get better at all of the above--but that comes with practice.

Bust a Cap!

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 3, 2008 at 9:07am

I have to admit, I just don't get it.

And, by "it," I'm talking about the uproar over the fact that the new Captain America carries a sidearm.

Maybe you haven't heard, but this seems to be the focus of a great portion of any news story about the new Captain America.

"Cap's back - and he's packing heat!"

Yeah? Really? I just don't see the big deal. The current comics have emphasized Captain America more as a soldier and a agent of the government than most of the time in the past. The "swashbuckling" Captain America of the 80's (which I loved dearly) isn't the direction the writer has chosen for the current book. It doesn't mean that it isn't good - it is - just that it is different.

The new individual (not giving any spoilers, in case you don't know) wearing the costume also doesn't have the advantage of the Super Soldier Serum that Steve Rogers had. That serum made Steve Rogers the pinnacle of humanity - faster and stronger than anyone without super powers has ever been before.

(Yeah, I fall in line with the folks that insist that Captain America doesn't really have "super powers." We can argue about it, but my feelings are basically that Steve Rogers, through the Super Soldier procedure, merely became the realization of the potential of humanity - the possible. When I think of "super powers," I think of the impossible.)

And, Captain America with a gun is not without precedence. I mean, after all, he was a soldier in WWII.

And, even after WWII, Captain America has occassionally used a firearm.

Mind you, I don't want Captain America to be a character like the Punisher, doling out hot-leaded vengeance to the world. That would be bad. Very, very bad.

Looking at Captain America in the context of the current storyline, the gun makes sense. Did Steve Rogers carry a gun, even in the recent storylines? No. But, then, this isn't Steve Rogers.

It just seems much ado about nothing to me.

Type at you later.

(A request - Captain America Vs. the Joker.)

Brother can you spare a dime?

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 2, 2008 at 4:23pm

I should have recognized it.

Earlier this week, I was telling a friend about how cheap I was getting off with my comic book order for January (for books coming out in March). I have, in the past couple of months, dropped several titles, but I was still amazed to find that my order was only going to be about half of what it usually is.

Merely the calm before the storm, I was soon to find out.

Which, as I stated before, I should have recognized. See, the comic book industry is pretty predictable. There are a couple of times a year that major events and special books are usually printed.

March is not one of those times. But, April? On the cusp of summer, with the major comic book film releases beginning to emerge in May and huge summer events starting their kick-offs in time for the summer convention season?

Huge.

Big McLargehuge.

I just made my initial run through for the February comic order, and, wow.

Anyone wanna buy my kidney?

I guess, though, I should feel lucky. I mean, the fact that there is a lot of good stuff out there is nice. There have been times in the past when I just haven't wanted much of what's out there.

So, I guess I'll just pull my belt a little tighter this month. I can handle that.

Anyone know where I can sell some plasma?

Type at you later.

(A request - Speedy, Green Arrow's sidekick.)

I've stopped eating for Feburary....

Posted by UnchartedSpirit on February 2, 2008 at 2:58pm

I'm not calling it fasting since I'm not bragging or anything I'm just desperate and nothing else seems to be connecting me with God. So starving may also starve any or all other sinful cravings I have and my probelems will go away much quicker! My papa said not eating would make me less focused than I already am but I has a poor record (though not as porr as my mom's) and I'm willing to gamble that as well (mostly I want to be talked out of this right now)... Thank you all for your prayers over me anyway!

*Reminder: this is not really a fast; If I did decide to fast I wouldn't touch the internet for a month which would probably drive me crazy ...

Ribit!

Posted by Billy Wamsley on February 1, 2008 at 5:20pm

I was watching TV the other morning, and someone said a phrase that I have always loved, but never hear anymore. Then I started thinking about the phrase, and others like it. And, it inspired this quick list for today.

Five Amphibian Related Phrases That I Enjoy

Phrase the First - I'm feeling as fine as frog's hair!

I don't even know why I like this phrase. Of course, the idea is that fine is being used in two ways here - the feeling and the idea of being thin and delicate. Frogs, just in case you were wondering, do NOT have hair (hey, I'm sure someone out there doesn't know), so the idea is that their hair would be as fine as you could get, and, thus, you couldn't feel any better.

Phrase the Second - You can't tell by looking at a frog how high he will jump.

A variation on "You can't judge a book by it's cover," I always liked the undertone that there is a possibility of greatness in a less than obvious package. Plus, everytime I say it in my head, I picture Mark Twain saying it, even though it doesn't really have anything to do with The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

Phrase the Third - Therein squats the toad!

I love this expression, but no one ever uses it, and I got sick and tired of explaining it. I use another phrase (Ay, there's the rub from Hamlet) a lot, and it means the essentially the same thing, which is, "that's the problem." If everyone could do me a favor and start using this phrase again, I would really appreciate it. (By the way, this is the one that inspired the list!)

Phrase the Fourth - Leap if you feel froggy.

Or, the variant If you feel froggy, then leap. It is a challenge that my mother actually used to use on us. We'd threaten to do something stupid as kids, and she'd just stare us down and say it. I have actually used this a lot when dealing with kids, either in a youth ministry setting, teaching, or even when I was working with problem teens. It caught them off guard, since they aren't familiar with it, yet they knew I was dead serious - take your shot, if you think you can.

Phrase the Fifth - Fully Rely On God (F.R.O.G.)

Okay, so this one doesn't technically use an amphibian in the phrase itself, but I've liked this acronym from the first time I ever heard it. Plus, we used to have a shower curtain that had various frogs on it, and one looked like he was praying, so I was always reminded of it. A nice, strong image to remind me of a lesson I need to make sure I'm using in my life.

Alright, that's it for now. Type at you later!

Swimming!

Posted by Billy Wamsley on January 31, 2008 at 9:45am

If you've been reading my blog this week, then you know that I started an effort toward a healthier life this week.

I was being completely honest when I said my first day was good, that I felt it was a good start. But, where is the fun in just that? In the words of Paul Harvey, here is "the rest of the story..."

I arrived at home, after work on Monday morning at about 7:20 a.m. Knowing I would have to be up by 11:25 a.m., I greeted the dogs, I got undressed, brushed my teeth, watched about 15 minutes of TV and was in bed at about 8:15 a.m.
10 seconds after I closed my eyes (or so it seemed at the time), I woke to the screaming of my alarm, fumbled toward it, thought a few less than pleasant thoughts about it, and got up. Sorta.

By "sorta," I mean that I stumbled toward the door to my bedroom and down the stair half asleep, nearly stepping on the cat, who, only because of his constant skittishness, darted out of the way before becoming a feline pancake.

I made my way to the couch, and, you guessed it, went to sleep sitting up.
I got a valuable 13 minutes of extra sleep, and made my way to the bathroom. There, through closed eyes, I used the facilities by sonar (guys, you know what I'm saying) while my eyes were still closed with the refusal to accept that I was intending to stay up.

I headed back to the living room, contemplating another glorious 13 minutes of sleep, but decided to get dressed instead. I pulled on a T-shirt, and a pair of jeans, and wet down my hair to comb it (here is something only a very few of you will understand - I had JFK hair).

Fully dressed and hair combed, I grabbed my beach towel and trunks, and headed for the car.

I arrived at the YMCA shortly after noon. It is at this point that it dawns on me - I don't think I've been swimming since I was in college. I'm not sure why the thought struck at that exact moment, but it would certainly explain things later.

After scanning my oh-so-cool photo membership card (in which I'm wearing a fedora, because I had not combed my hair very well that day and was unaware that any photo-taking would happen), I made my way into the building, and was hit by another thought - I haven't been to the YMCA, other than to pay for my membership, since I was in high school for a youth group lock-in.

Not a big deal. I mean, I'm a "guy," right? My birthright was a God-given perfect sense of direction.

Well, after stumbling around the building, interrupting two basketball games, some weightlifters, and a pilates class, I stumbled onto... the tennis courts.

The worker at the desk there asked if I needed help. Yes, I cried, I'm completely lost, and alone, and afraid, and I want my mommy, and I want to go home.

Oh, no, wait... that is just what I was thinking. As a "guy" though, I couldn't say that. Instead, I said that I had merely never been back that far since I got a membership, and I was just seeing what was there.

Which wasn't really a lie. I mean, it was the first time I had been back that far since purchasing my membership, and I was wondering what was back there... hoping it was the pool.

Anyway, I turned with my "guy-ness" still intact, and headed back the other direction.

I came upon a door that said "Locker Rooms," and figured it was worth a shot. Bingo! Joy! Elation! I found that once inside, there was a door on the other side, clearly labeled "Pool".

And you thought I should've asked for directions. Hah!

So, I change into my trunks and head to the pool. I pick an empty lane and enter the delightfully lukewarm water. I glance at the clock to check the time, and I start to swim.

I don't know if it was the second or third stroke in that my body decided that I had lost my mind. I'm thinking the second. Anyway, it was clearly reminding me that I had not been swimming in a long, long time, and, despite remembering what to do, it did not wish to actually do it.

I pressed on. By the second lap, my legs were using desperate measures to try to stop me, threatening to cramp with each stroke. Not being one to bow to the whims of my own legs, I refused to stop.

After about 15 minutes or so, my body had resigned itself to the continued torture.

It was at that point that I realized I should probably take it easy for my first day. Instead of the planned 45 minutes to an hour, I'd only do 30 minutes.

At about the 30 minute mark, I thought, hey, I can do one more lap, just for good measure.

That lap was pretty good. So, I thought, why not another?

You've heard the expression about the straw that broke the camel's back? How about the one about the lap that drowned the moron?

I don't know if it was the fact that I had silently promised my body that the previous lap would be the last or what, but I struggled like a man having a fit.

When I finally made it to the end, I knew that was it. I would drown if I tried another.

I made my way over to the ladder. The first step was no problem. The rest? I can't describe the agony.

As I forced myself out of the pool, there were moments I thought I was going to collapse. I think it was only my fear of being mistaken for a beached whale and being pushed back into the water that kept me going.

With Herculean effort I made my way back to the locker room. I stripped off the wet trunks and, summoning up every ounce of strength I had, I got dressed.

I did manage to meet one goal in that locker room - I did not break into tears.

I made my way slowly out to my car, actually having to lift my legs into the car once I was inside. I drove home and sat in front of my house for a long, long time before going in.

I stayed up another couple of hours, just so I wouldn't stiffen up to the point of immobility. Through the grace of God and the glory of Aleve, I made it through the day.

Oh, I hurt. I hurt in ways I had forgotten I could. but I made it.

The next day, there was no way I could try the swimming again, so I decided the Monday-Wednesday-Friday would work well for at least the first week.

On Wednesday, I went again. I actually matched the amount that I did for that first day.

And, guess what?

It was still a horribly painful experience.

But... not quite a horrible. Not quite as painful.

I told people that I'd keep up the same pace until I no longer wanted to die after the swimming. That would be my indicator that I needed to add more, until I found my new threshold of wanting to die.

Onward and upward!

Type at you later.

New Year, New Hopes, Old Dreams

Posted by Favian Ee on January 31, 2008 at 4:57am

"Dream Big" has been the theme of the still small voice since the last quarter of 2007, and since the beginning of 2008, it's been an adventure of recovering old dreams, learning to dream bigger, and working at it.

I've been drawing for ages, and I started doing cartoons when I was about 11. Along the way I got saved and the Lord gave me the desire to draw for Him to spread His Word through this media. Dreams of creating my own comic book, doing a comic Bible, and even telling the stories of the old heroes of the faith (i.e. biographies) through comics stirred my heart. But these dreams got lost a few years back in the depths of depression. However God's plans for me didn't end there, and He's been working to recover and re-form His plans in my heart. He's given me the opportunity to print my own Christian comic book and cartoon stationery, and to study animation in what I would consider one of the most promising schools in Singapore. Furthermore, the opportunities and blessings the Lord has given to me in the past few months are just too many to write down.

I feel that this will be a year of building, and only He knows what is in store! My prayer is that He'll draw me closer to Him that I may know Him more.

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All Posts (2161)

Suit up!

Baby Cartoonist in the making

Trinity (no, not THAT one!)

My Testimony

Vroom!

Baby steps.

The Ache.

Fun (silly?) TimeFlyz Promotion . . .

Animator in the making!

Official press release: MECHA MANGA BIBLE HEROES

THE COOLEST COMIC BOOK YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER EVER CONFISCATED!

Didn't happen.

Nobody Likes Tony Pony

On the Edge...

My First Comic

Bust a Cap!

Brother can you spare a dime?

I've stopped eating for Feburary....

Ribit!

Swimming!

New Year, New Hopes, Old Dreams

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