Check Off Chekhov's Gun

Whenever people tell me that they have read my Pretty Vacant comic, I sometimes ask, “Who autographed the baseball?” The answer usually informs me if they actually read the story or are just being polite, but the baseball also serves another purpose.

Diane tells Gigi that she carries around her lucky baseball all the time on page four. When Diane is captured by The Still Life Corporation, her purse is left behind. What pops out of her purse? The baseball -- the same baseball that Diane mentioned on page four is used by Gigi as a projectile weapon on page eighteen! If you’re going to have a baseball in your story, please throw the ball.

Likewise, if you have to put a gun in your story, please fire the gun! Anton Chekhov was the first to discuss this technique, but it has been utilized by storytellers as early as Scheherazade in Arabian Nights. The Chekhov’s Gun principle is simple: do not include any unnecessary elements in a story. It’s especially true in a comic book format, where there are usually a set number of pages.

And if you’re astute and follow this blog closely, you’ll notice Gigi carries a gun on the cover of my next Pretty Vacant story. I just hope she uses it!

Nothing Lasts Forever, Even Pan-Galatic Reign

This year’s MLS playoffs were an exciting ride!

I didn’t believe another sports club would ever break the monopoly the Los Angeles Dodgers and Manchester United have as my two favorite professional teams, but it seems that the LA Galaxy are ready to join the cartel.

The Galaxy first caught my attention when they upset the Honduran team Olimpia to win the 2000 Concacaf Championship, and the 2007 signing of England international David Beckham certainly sparked my interest, but the team’s recent run through the MLS playoffs truly captured my imagination! Led by team captain Landon Donovan (America's only world-class soccer player), the Galaxy were this year’s MLS Western Conference Champions, barely losing the MLS Championship to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks.

I have to give credit to Donovan for having an MVP season, Beckham for rededicating himself to play in Los Angeles, and head coach Bruce Arena for making the two stars see eye-to-eye. Becks' and Dono's past disagreements are well-documented, but watching the two run arm-in-arm after the latter’s goal in a playoff match against Houston earlier this month made me wonder if they have had any differences at all!

So what does this have to do with Pretty Vacant? No matter how talented you might be, you have to get along with people. This is true whether you are soccer athlete or a comic book creator. You have to get along with fellow creators, publishers, printers and distributors to have a successful comic book. Any misstep along the way could lead to your comic book not being printed. The same is also true for a team missing out on a championship.

As for the Galaxy losing the championship match? As much as I like the English Premier League, nothing beats the American playoff system. Not only does it sustain interest in Los Angeles, but also in far off places like Seattle, Columbus and Washington DC. Granted, Salt Lake City won the championship this year, but the Galaxy -- the better team IMHO -- had to endure artificial turf, bad press, power blackouts, wacky ESPN-mandated start times, the starting goalie’s broken hand, Beckham’s bad foot and Donovan’s pending divorce during the playoffs. And I repeat: The Galaxy barely lost on penalty kicks!

I’m primed to publish another Pretty Vacant issue, and follow another year of Galaxy soccer -- because nothing lasts forever, even a soccer loss’ pain. Cue the Slash solo already!