Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki

Hey! I've been Wikied! About Star Trek, no less. I'm curious who wrote this entry: it's largely correct...well, except about the one bit that I "left CGE to join the Artmonkeys studio in Tampa Bay, Flordia, where he currently acts as CEO."

Snark Warning: no harm intended ahead, just a bit of crack.

"...left CGE..."
Well, actually CGE left me. I was working at home the day the acting A.D. called me June 2004 and said not to worry about coming in that day because CGE was declaring Chapter 11. And more importantly, Artmonkeys took shape shortly after I was released from my exclusive at Crossgen in September 2003, in exchange for the hefty 30% paycut I took and the laying off of one of my best letterers.

"...to join..."
This one's forgiveable, because it's been shrouded in hype for so long. I helped start the idea for this studio. Originally, it was going to be me and Rob Schwager, and we were going to ask a few others to come in. At one point, I had lunch with Ian Feller, Rob, and...hmm. There was a fourth person there. We ate at Christo's in New Port Richey. Anyhow. All that fell through, and I wound up with the name. Recorded for posterity.

"...the Artmonkeys studio in Tampa Bay..."
And the Artmonkeys Studio, despite any previous hype, is more adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico than the Tampa Bay. Google 34653 sometime. I'm 2.5 miles as the crow flies from the Gulf. I drive 30 miles to get to the Tampa Bay. That's a quibble, though.

"...Flordia..."
Where's Flordia? Mebbe Strong Bad knows.

"...acts as CEO."
Acts?! ACTS?!! Nayor, mein frere.

I "acts" like an artmonkey. A caffeineated artmonkey. I AM a CE--Oh, no I'm not. I'm not legally recognized for that acronym. But I am in charge. Um. Yeah.

You. Letter.

This has been a Not The Strong-Badia Action Cool News Action-Report.
"We're Investiga-awesome!"

Calavera Comics Shout Out

Thanks to the Calavera Comics guys for linking me at their great blog.
They're a group of super-talented artists breaking into comics and studying at the Art Institute of Tampa. Props to John, Alex, Mark, Brian and Jason! Here's to making some comics, guys! /raises inkwell/

Ethan Powell

You should pray for this child and his family. I can't effectively capture their dilemma and trials, but essentially Ethan is a very sick, but hopefully treatable, little boy. Being a parent of two boys myself, my wife and I feel this family's dilemma poignantly. Go visit the blog about Ethan, and I encourage you to support their search for a bone marrow donor through DKMS.

Portfolio Submissions! Artists Wanted

Hey artists out there:

I'm on the lookout for professional pencilers, inkers and colorists.

Submit samples of your work during March 2007 at artmonkeys (dot) studios (at) gmail (dot) com, and those who I am able to work with, I'll be able to offer competitive industry rates for your work.

(links to online galleries would be preferred, but I could accept attachments 1MB or smaller, so give me an initial heads-up that your following e-mail will contain attachments. Wouldn't want any attachments to clog up my inbox and cause your contact to me go missing. I'm always pushing the limits of g-mail's storage... :D )

The Eagle Awards 2006 Nominations

The Eagle Awards 2006 Nominations are being taken online back at that link.

First time I noticed the Eagle Awards was an early X-Men comic I owned in the 6th grade; I think it was a John Byrne/Terry Austin cover of the X-Men in the Savage Land, Colossus and Cyclops tied to a red-hot stake. My admiration for comics grew immediately upon seeing the Eagle Awards icon as I realized artists and writers could win an award for making comics...what a great job they have!

Now I'm all twitterpated that I'm in the mix, nominated for Best Letterer. But don't mind me; go vote! (And not for me, but for the best letterer; but if you do vote for me, I appreciate the kind thoughts and support!) ;-)

Why publishing is so tricky

Because you have to care about the fans. And mean it.

A sad week

First, we got the sad news that our friends in Utah delivered their baby stillborn last week, and had the viewing yesterday; beautiful Zane Andrews. John & Holly, Zane's mom and dad, are handling this well, I have heard, and I'm not. Sad, sad, sad... tears me up now writing this.

And, now I just got off the phone that one of the collabs I was going to be working with on an upcoming book, a phenom colorist named Drew Posada, has passed away recently. I was just speaking of him a couple weeks ago, while sorting out the details of this new project with the publisher. An incredible talent, and interesting guy. Here's a thread about Drew, at the World-Famous colorist forum, GutterZombie....

Rest in Peace boys.