Harbinger of Lists

Over the next few weeks, I'll be trying something a little different.

Inspired by my friend Dan, I have made a list of the ten comic book writers and/or artists that have been the most influential to my work.

Like most lists, I'll be starting at #10 and working my way down to #1.

So yeah, look forward to that.

Until then, tell me...based on this first page, should I color my next mini-comic?

Hope you all are doing well!

***

The Lord of Lunos, Page 1

Decision 7-09, or MM-CDE!

Salutations you AMAZING mortals!

So, I have been working hard these last few weeks, making some incredible things. Some of which are comic related.

Those of you who know me, know how much I LOVE the comics medium. Those same people know exactly HOW EAGER I am to bleed my brain of the many ideas bursting from its membranous tissue and transform it into a stunning piece of illustrated fiction. As much as I would like to jump right into a full-fledged graphic novel, it is best for me at the juncture to stick to baby steps and reach the proverbial "next level" mentioned in the previous journal.

That said, I present to you Mark's Mini-Comic Decision Extravaganza!

For the first time, YOU the watcher gets to control what ME the artist creates next. Imagine if Marvel/DC/Image came to your door and asked YOU what YOU want from them! It's like that, only FREE!

So follow this link, vote for the mini-concept you like best. In one week, the results will be tallied and the NEXT awesome mini-comic will be decided!

Remember, YOU have the POWER!

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Manor of the Macabre Presents: Angels and Demons, or The Devil is in the Details, Page 01

Greed Trumps All

I am quite angry about many things right now.

Apparently, Fox is looking to recast the voice actors for Futurama.

Stepping back, their decision to look for new voice actors is more of a disappointment than a reason for me to get angry. With most television programs, people wouldn't even notice if the writers were switched out. So why should it be any different with voice actors. Though I want all the talent from the previous episodes/movies to remain the same, I understand that during a collaborative effort such as this, certain talents aren't always available.

In this case, however, all the talent is available. Fox just doesn't want to pay the requested salaries. The thing that really torches my tiki is the comment made by the Republican Part after having applauded Fox's decision.

To quote the GOP

"We applaud Fox for this bold decision, which demonstrates exactly the kind of thinking we need for the future. A lower budget and a new voice cast will stimulate fans' imaginations leading to a fresh growth of the show. This isn't the time to be investing in something of great quality because of some future belief that quality will bring profits."

Go figure...Republicans once again vote for quantity over quality. After all, the only way to fix a leaky bucket is by throwing more water in it, right? Who in their right mind would want to look to the future and make a smart, profitable investment, anyway?

It's funny how they are so concerned about budgeting money after giving such a large throwback to executives of corporate America. Is anybody else picking up on the mixed messages here? I don't care how much money Big Oil and the Auto Industry are shoving down your pants, you have to make the smart choice when it involves a nation of people. These special interest politician's shouldn't be making any decisions if they can't tell the difference between a healthy asset and a toxic asset in the middle of an economic depression.

If these maladjusted policy-makers continue with such obvious errors of judgement, then I believe it is our duty as American citizens to find them a decent assisted-living community. Not because they should live in comfort, but because they lack the maturity level to make a responsible choice in any adult situation.

***

Purple Elephants Don't Grow On Trees

Forgetting the Memory

There were many things to write about when I sat down at the keyboard. However, they have all seemed to escape me at the moment. Instead, enjoy the pretty picture while I try remembering what I forgot.

***

Spring Owl REDUX

The Flow of Things

The more I work on unifying my foregrounds with backgrounds, the more realistic my backgrounds become. Though that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is annoying knowing that the harder I work the farther I get from my goal.

Maybe I should treat it more like the metaphor that frames the problem best: the rip-tide.

Whilst in the ocean, swimmers can occasionally find themselves being pulled back to the sea while trying to reach the shore. The harder they swim, the farther they get to shore. This is called the rip-tide. In theses instances, the swimmers are advised to stop swimming, as the waters will gradually return them to shore.

Maybe I should treat this occurrence as an artistic rip-tide. It could be beneficial for me to relax and go with the flow.

***

City in Ink

Moon Over My Slumber

There's just something about the night sky. Screw stars...gimme the moon, and I'll be just find.

Growing up, I had an east face window in my room. The window itself was fairly small and located higher than most windows. Because of its unusual size, it never received any shades or draping. Furthermore, the only good way to situate my bed at that time was in such a way that I could look out the window while lying in bed.

There were many nights that the moon kept me up. In many ways, I felt the moon shone much more clearly than the sun ever did, despite knowing the connection between the moon's shine and the sun's glow. The moon became a good friend, a watchful eye, and the reason I could fall asleep many nights.

Since moving out of that house, I have had windows facing north, west, and south. Never again have I slept as well as I did in that one room with the moon over my bed.

***

Forest Moon

The Anti-Finger

Driving to the grocer, window open, Ting Tings rockin’ over the radio.

Approaching intersection. Out of the corner of my eye, a truck appears from the left.

I hit the brakes. Truck drives through stop sign.

“What the…” emanates quite naturally from my maw as the one finger salute waves the truck by.

In all fairness, I had every right to be angry. This truck almost smashes into me at the intersection. Despite the requisite fury that should have been boiling, I was left confused. For as the truck comes tumbling by, the driver responds to my ASL profanity with an equal yet opposite reaction: He raises his hands to about chin level and displays a silent film representation of Alfred E. Newman’s “What, me worry?”

Confused? Trust me…you have seen it before.

It is the same expression every child gives when asked if they ate all the cookies.

It is the display of faux ignorance drawn into every panel of Hank Ketcham’s “Dennis the Menace”.

It is, quite honestly, a non-verbal platitude reserved for the depths of Muppet Hell.

And for some unbeknownst reason, it has become the Goofus to Gallant’s finger.

In case you are having trouble visualizing it, then imagine you were holding a plate of delicious, fresh baked cupcakes. Now, bring them up to your face so you can saver the scent. Tilt your head, and remove the plate. Add a look of stupor to your face, and you have an expression I will now refer to as “The Anti-Finger.”

Anyways, as this truck nearly crashes into me, the driver flashes me the anti-finger. And what really strikes me about it is that I have seen it before.

Zoom back about two weeks. Driving down First Avenue, returning home. As I reach the stoplight, it switches from red to green. No need to stop, I continue forward. This time zooming in from the right, another truck comes barreling down the street. Given his current velocity, I realize he isn’t going to stop, so I hit my brakes. The truck just barely misses my front bumper.

My car howls in anger as I press the horn. From his raised cab, the driver looks down to me, and with a look that says, “I have no idea what is happening,” he flashes the anti-finger.

Despite escaping these costly, near-accidents without a scratch, I still want to know when did the unwritten opposite of “F* YOU” become “SILLY ME!”

***

The Anti-Finger