Comic update

The move to my just-purchased condo is complete. Now comes the onerous task of unpacking the office. It is a task I approach with dread. On the other hand, my comics projects continue. I've sent out my contracts to my art team for "Time Corps" and awaiting their return. I am psyched to see how this project, which will be challenging on several counts, turns out. The idea of creating my own comics really excites me. I have been a fan of the form from its' three major centers (USA, Western Europe, & Japan) for most of my life & know that I can add to the body of work out there.
As for "E.I.", the redux after Diamond declined is finished. I will soon be sending in the redux for solicitation to be included in their catalogue. I am much more hopeful this time out...as the work is much more professional looking. I am also in the midst of writing issues 2 & 3. Of course, I've fallen behind...as I promised my penciler that a completed script for issue #2 would be done by the end of the month (I've only reached page 10). Writing good dialogue has proven to be the biggest challenge for me. What has been easy is the "big picture" of the series, the backstory of the characters, and the arc of the series as a whole. Anyway, I'm confident I can come up with something good by the deadline (I usually do), but may have to really hump towards the end of the month.
As for issue #3 of "E.I.", I still have yet to come up with a good name for a new human antagonist (a gung-ho military type who's also a bible-thumping wacko who buys completely the fundamentalist idea that God granted exclusive stewardship of the Earth & its' creatures to do as they like). I'm thinking something Southern or Hillbilly.
Hasta!

Soccer - Beckham comes to Los Angeles

What had been rumored has finally come to pass. The golden boy of soccer, David Beckham, is coming to Los Angeles to "grace" us Angelinos with his presence on the HDC pitch in Galaxy gold & green. Of course, this happened after Real Madrid pulled their latest contract offer off the table whilst Spice Boy was taking too long for their liking. Perhaps, he also finally realized that he would never put on an England jersey while Steve McClaren is coach. The rumors of Posh house hunting in Malibu and Bel Air had been rife through out West LA since this past summer. Real Madrid Head Coach Fabio Capello relegating him to the status of highly paid bench warmer crystalized his decision.
The next operative question is how will the Galaxy incorporate him into their current line-up. Posh Boy's favored position is right midfield. He is also a defensive liability at this stage of his career, thus forcing the right back to stay at home a lot more. The Galaxy's current right back of choice is Chris Albright, who is most dangerous when he pushes up from the back. Thus the presence of Posh Boy could blunt the best part of Albright's game. Posh Boy is also not that great at holding the ball in the center of the park, thus Beckham addressing another of the Galaxy's long time needs, a central playmaker, is a non-starter. Another solution, puting the du jour formation of European soccer, the 3-5-2, is problematic in MLS. The physical nature of the league has shown that the old standby, 4-4-2, is the way to go. If I am an opposing coach playing the Galaxy next season from June 30 on in, I would attack down their right side (or whatever side Posh Boy is playing on) all night long.
The "star" aspect remains to be seen too. I suspect there might be a curosity factor for awhile, but unless the product wins over enough newbies, crowd levels could go back to their currentl level...which would be real embarrassing with Posh Boy on the payroll. It has happened in Galaxy history before, when three Mexican starts in a row, Jorge Campos, Carlos Hermosillo, & "El Matador" failed to draw the holy grail of American soccer, the expatriate Mexican soccer fan. I expect the Brits to stay away too.

Thoughts too late...

Wow. This is the first time in quite a while I've blogged twice in the same week. Perhaps this is a resolution I will keep.
Though this is well past due, I can not resist the "temptation" to share my opinion regarding an aspect of the Iraq debacle. Mainly, how those who "thought" it up actually believed it would work. If one reads the various papers put out by the Project for the New American Century, they have a very academic mien to them (i.e., not too grounded in real life). In fact, I had read this sort of tripe before. It read like a Master's Thesis that was graded a "C" (if the instructor was feeling generous) with the following remark, "Sounds good in theory, but does not account for facts on the ground that could easily derail the whole thing." The writer's reaction would be to cry that the instructor is a Liberal with bias against conservative students and ideas. Instead of re-examining their thesis and taking important details (such as a country's history and culture) into account, they "sulked" off to various right-wing think tanks (what a contradiction in terms!) and produced this tripe for the consumption of the likes of Dick Cheney et al. Now this nation has been led down the road to a disaster that will out do Vietnam in terms of the damage done to the United States internationally. What we can hope for is that the public has finally learned from this and will not let history repeat itself...though I am not too certain about that one.

A New Year...maybe better blogging habits

Hola to all who bother to read this.
One of the resolutions I made this year was to be better about keeping this blog current.
One thing different since I wrote last is that E.I. got reviewed (www.indycomicreview.com) & it was mostly positive. Even the negative comments were right on the graphic part of the critique. One thing I must state to all artists out there: if you do not like your work critiqued...don't put it out there! Know that if you wish for your art to be seen, then it must run the gauntlet of critics.
I am also moving forward with my second comic book series, Time Corps. Like E.I., it will combine several genres to tell timeless tales in a 21st century manner. It will be challanging on several fronts, but I am exicited to tell the tales.
www.wunderman-comics.com