Pretty Vacant Thoughts

Cryodome

2012-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

(Notes: This is an entry in an ongoing series of bringing a new twist to an old story and my 100th post on this blog. If you can’t go big on your 100th, when can you? It was also very time consuming modifying the images to fit within the PG-13 spectrum, but I had fun doing it!)

It is common for a beautiful woman to be in danger within genre-related material. In this setting, there is perhaps a 50% chance that she might survive by the end of the story.

Yet add another pretty lady into this mix and chances of survival have now dropped dramatically! For when there are two beautiful women in the same genre story, one must undergo a transformative demise while the other barely escapes in time…

The simple way to describe this process? Two babes enter, one babe leaves.

Welcome to Cryodome.

After an exchange of e-mails with Dr. Iago Faustus, the proprietor of eroticmadscience.com, here are some guidelines for the Cryodome process:

1. There is a transformative process
2. There is a primary and secondary female character
3. The secondary character undergoes process; end result revealed to the audience
4. The primary character is intended to undergo the same process

Nice theory, but does the Cryodome process work in a real story? For starters, here’s Pretty Vacant, the comic that serves as the basis for this blog’s existence:

Pretty Vacant (2009 Comic Book)

1. From active pro athlete to inactive mannequin "mold"

2. Gigi Gutierrez and Mindy Soong

3. Mindy sedated, plastinated; revealed frozen in cryotobe

4. Gigi escapes when sedative wears off.

Gigi escapes to live another day. Poor Mindy remains behind, frozen in stasis until the shady Still Life Corporation needs to reuse her body as a mold for a new mannequin line. It’s cruel and unfair, but necessary to the story. With Mindy’s fate, suspense builds as Gigi becomes vulnerable to the same outcome!

Cryodome gets its name from two sources. The first is a female take on 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The cryo-motif from a quirky 1966 eurospy film provides the second:

Kiss The Girls And Make Them Die (1966 Movie)

1. From living breathing spy to frozen femme fatale

2. Susan (Dorothy Provine) and Wilma (the amazing Seyna Seyn)

3. Sedated Wilma placed in chamber; revealed frozen in cryotube

4. Susan is saved by her butler

As one has noticed, the condemned cutie doesn't even have to be dead for the Cryodome process to work. All it takes is a story with two fetching femmes where one character is eliminated in an inspired manner that will be remembered long after the credits roll or the last page is turned.

Special care is given to the doomed damsels in Cryodome, as maintaining their beauty and dignity after their demise is of utmost importance. Most are placed in a state of complete lack of awareness as the process begins; if not, their procedures are at least pain-free.

The Cryodome process is effective in science fiction...

Invasion Of The Bee Girls (1973 Movie)

1. From human woman to bee-mutated female

2. Julie (Victoria Vetri) and Nora (Anna Aries)

3. Sedated Nora cocooned; revealed as bee-mutated female

4. Julie is saved by government agent

... horror...

Turistas (2006 Movie)

1. From breathtaking party-girl to unbreathing organ donor

2. Bea (Olivia Wilde) and Amy (Beau Garrett)

3. Amy sedated then dissected; revealed deceased with stomach cut open

4. Bea escapes when abused henchman switches sides

… any time period…

Doctor Who: Talons Of Weng Chiang (1976 TV Fantasy)

1. From living breathing woman to beautiful drained corpse

2. Leela (Louise Jameson) and Cleaning Lady (Vaune Craig-Raymond)

3. Hypnotized Cleaning Woman enters cabinet; revealed to be empty shell

4. Leela is saved by The Doctor

... and it has no language barrier.

Anatomie (2000 German Movie)

1. From young med student to flayed anatomy model

2. Paula (Franka Potente) and Gretchen (Anna Loos)

3. Gretchen injected with "promidal"; revealed plastinated on display

4. Paula saves herself due to knowledge of chemical reactions

The process doesn’t have to be visual to be effective. Just ask Edgar Allen Poe, Bram Stoker or every author whoever wrote a mystery about a young lady hiring a detective to discover her sister’s fate. Poe himself wrote that it is not the death of the beautiful woman that's important, but how poetic it is to the reader (or audience).

In theory and pratice, Cryodome works, with the audience very receptive to the results! Where else can someone freeze, mutate, filet, distill or plastinate a gorgeous gal and get away with it... once? It’s yet another literary device that a writer can keep in a creative bag of tricks to enhance his/her story.

As we mourn these lovely ladies, remember that the death of beauty is a common theme in these genres. It comes fast and furious. Remember them fondly, and hope that future storytellers are inspired to create even more imaginative ways to give these wonderful women characters a beautiful demise… after all, it is an art form!

*****
Postscript: In an effort to seem a little less biased, I encourage someone to start up a Cryodome column involving two nice-looking men! Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back seems like a good place to begin. I know women who find Han Solo's freeze sequence hot.

Can It Be So? Rumours At 35

2012-02-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

Long time readers of this blog know my undisputed favorite album. What they don’t know is that my second favorite album varies upon my mood. I could blog about a number of second favorite cds, but this post is about an album that came out 35 years ago this month…

I was eight when Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was released. I’m not going to write about the hedonistic lifestyles or personal (not professional) breakups of drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie, guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stephanie “Stevie” Nicks. I don’t really know any of the backstory as the group recorded the album. That just leaves the music.

It has been argued that Rumours is hugely successful (40 million units sold to date) due to the three main songwriter’s songs giving the impression that one was listening to entirely different bands. Fleetwood Mac’s record label certainly believed that, releasing Lindsey’s “Go Your Own Way”, Christine’s “Don’t Stop”, Stevie’s “Dreams” and Christine’s “You Make Loving Fun” as singles in that order from the 1977 album.

Exceptional musicians in their own right, Christine and Lindsey would write songs around their instruments. Christine wrote songs where her keyboards could groove (“You Make Loving Fun”), boogie-woogie (“Don’t Stop”) and gently lilt (“Songbird”), while Lindsey’s song were rife with guitar sounds both electric (“Go Your Own Way”) and acoustic (“Never Going Back Again”).

Lindsey was especially good at crafting the group’s sound. Listen to the guitar playfully bounce around in “You Make Loving Fun” or shimmer in unexpectedly at the 1:44 mark of “Dreams”. Lindsey had the ability to punch up Christine’s trite exclamations of love as well as tone down Stevie’s wildly imaginative musings. Christine returned the favor by having Lindsey share lead vocals on “Don’t Stop”, while Stevie sang her heart out on the background vocals of Lindsey’s “Go Your Own Way”, despite knowing it was a direct rebuke to their relationship.

The signature sound was filled by Mick and John’s rhythm section. Playing together when Fleetwood Mac was a British blues band, they instinctively knew when the beat should be driven forward and when to pull it back. Even though Stevie was the least talented musician in the group, she was equally important. She wrote the albums only number one song (“Dreams”) while giving the band someone to front the group. Her mystical chanteuse image and flower power movements on stage provided the brand for Fleetwood Mac, enhancing the music and giving listeners focus.

So 1970s! (L-to-R) John, Lindsey, Stevie, Mick and Christine

The song that holds Rumours together is ironically titled “The Chain”. Credited to all five members, “The Chain” combines unfinished songs by the three songwriters while being bridged by the rhythm section (listen for a thumping bass solo by John). If Fleetwood Mac’s members were highly dysfunctional, then the music overcame their faults. After 35 years, shouldn’t Rumours finally be judged by the music and not by the lives of the members?

Chuck Me Baby One Last Time

2012-01-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

It’s been a fun five years for the average guy turned super-spy! I've invested so much in "Chuck", and it's given me so much back, I'm grateful to blog about it one last time...

I’m not going to say that Season Five of NBC’s “Chuck” was as great as past seasons (especially the remarkable Season Two), but it certainly was an entertaining victory lap for our favorite characters! This season confirmed that Chuck doesn’t need the Intersect to be a super-spy, Sarah doesn’t have to be alone and Casey doesn’t have to be unloved.

This also didn’t mean that there was no growth this season. Casey's relationship with Getrude Verbanski added a new facet to his character, while Morgan and Sarah showed how the Intersect affected people differently. Yet my favorite character growth this season has to be Jeff. Once he stopped sleeping in his van (and no longer inhaling the carbon monoxide fumes inside), he became Smart Jeff, able to figure out Chuck’s secret life all on his own!

And it wasn’t as if the guest stars stopped appearing. There was that guy from Star Wars, the guy from "Farscape", the lady from "Charlie’s Angels" and the gal who got cut up (literally!) in Turistas, but the one guest star that really impressed was Carrie Ann Moss (from The Matrix) as Verbanski. She was tough when she had to be, funny when she wanted to be and loving despite herself. In short, she was the female equivalent of Adam Baldwin’s Casey, and thus worthy of his (and our) love!

Despite Chuck not having the Intersect for virtually all of this season, it played an important part. The Intersect made Morgan a jerk, gave Sarah amnesia and provided motivation for the two main villains, Shaw and Quinn. By the series finale (Chuck vs. The Goodbye), with one last Intersect upload left, Chuck opts to save the day by using it on himself, not to restore Sarah’s memories -- leaving Sarah ignorant of the love she felt with Chuck. Yet we are left with the impression that Sarah will regain her love for Charles Bartowski. She fell in love with him despite the Intersect, not because of it!

“Chuck” being equal parts action, comedy and romance, a big part of the show’s success was the acting of its three stars. Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah) was an action revelation. Baldwin did a great job balancing action with comedy. And what can you say about Zac Levi (Chuck)? His ability to bare his emotions onscreen gave “Chuck” its heart!

Chuck has done something Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Kirk never could: enable his/her show to never get cancelled! I’ll leave you with that thought…

… after this: did anyone honestly think that “Chuck” would end without one last Jeffster! performance? Germany beckons!

My Favorite Episode: Chuck vs. The Santa Suit

My Favorite Line: “Canada?”

Coolest Moment (I’m claiming three): 1) Shaw outthought, then outfought by Chuck, 2) Casey out-drawing a six person hit squad without them firing a single bullet, and 3) Jeffster!'s final performance

Charah Moment: “Chuck, tell me our story.” - Sarah

Previous Chuck Entry

Update: Someone was bold enought to upload Jeffster!'s entire performance. Contrast that with the original sequence on "Chuck" last friday. Vik Sahay (Lester) has an amazing singing voice!

Coming Soon!

2012-01-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

Perfectly preserved, living in a state of suspended animation.

Change and decay are strangers to her, and radiation cannot affect her. In a Midwestern silo, Still Life managed to do it -- freeze Gigi Gutierrez inside a cryo-tube.

With previous Pretty Vacant stories, a plot twist like that would have ended Gigi’s tale immediately. Yet with Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I, the alluring ex-athlete’s freezing serves as a logical stopping point.

A two-part story is liberating! One can build upon previous stories and give them a new feel. More pages for characterization are available, especially in the cases of Hans and Mindy. And everything can build up to a menacing cliffhanger!

A two-part story is also hindering! One has to be careful not to lose the reader with the added pages. Characters can still be crowded out (how did Diane only appear in one panel?), and balancing explanation with action is tricky...

... but doable!

Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part Two is coming soon, and the fun doesn’t stop, even if the conclusion takes place halfway around the world!

Best,
John Villalino

Note: This was supposed to be my opening post for the 2012, but it didn’t turn out that way. Damn my low self-esteem and David Beckham!

Whither David? The New Cool

2012-01-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hey... who photoshopped David Beckham's face on my body?

Los Angeles > Paris

Last month I told mes amis on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean about my feelings on David Beckham contemplating a move from the Los Angeles Galaxy to play soccer for Paris Saint Germain -- that Becks was using the $18 million offer from Paris to get leverage on a better deal in LA.

I was right.

Why would anyone take a lower paying job when there is another job offer promising higher pay? There are many factors, but one thing that’s been heavily reported is that Beckham didn’t want to move his family to Paris… because the Southern California area is just too cool!

Beckham’s star power helps legitimize the sport in this country. In the past, kids would play soccer and move on to other “cooler” sports, like American Football, Baseball (which even I still play) and Basketball when they got older, because of a combination of entitlement and dates with cheerleaders. Now kids may see Beckham and fellow Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan with their high salaries, beautiful women and recognition that they have and may be more likely to play soccer professionally.

I see comics the same way.

Twenty years ago, kids would read comic books and move on to “cooler” media, like television, movies and novels that included vampires. Now they see the recognition and pretty ladies coupled with high wages in top comic book creators. Comics can’t compete with other media in terms of exposure or spending, but comic books have an undeniable influence on their counterparts (San Diego’s Comic-Con for example), leaving kids more willing to create the comics of the future!

Page 10 pencils for the upcoming PV: FR Part II

I will grant that other places may have more history (Paris), hipness (London) or sights (New Zealand), but one will be hard-pressed to find a cooler place than SoCal, a hotbed for comics…

… which by the way are cool!

Previous Beckham/Comic-Con/Babes entry

Crazy Beat

2012-01-01T22:46:00.000-08:00

Think big. Act simply. Stay focused.

I had everything figured out three years ago, but without going through the details, it all fell apart. It didn’t mean that I was a failure, but it also did not mean I had to be content with how things were. Putting my life back together has been a struggle, but everything is now set in motion.

I don’t like giving advice, since the only life I would like to screw up is my own. However, 2012 is a transition year, and I only want to give advice to me, so it’s okay this once! Follow along if you like; it is good advice.

Think big. Act simply. Stay focused.

Create a Pretty Vacant app. Not only will you get that Amazon rep off your back, but also your fans with iPads and Kindles. Granted, you have to learn new software (I know you hate that), but focus on the extended reach with new fans and helping publishers with their bottom line as well.

Hit the curveball to the opposite field. I know you want to hit home runs, but if you use Moneyball principles with your comic book, you can use Moneyball where it’s supposed to be applied. The shortstop who bats ahead of you helps you see better pitches in the batter’s box -- enable her to cross home plate more often.

Be grateful. Grateful for the cool house by the beach, the bosses that hired you, your hands-off publishers, the new friendships replacing the ones lost, the lady jock who’s secretly a closet geek, and yes -- your family! Show your loyalty not by putting in more hours, but by working hard in the time you do have! Someday they might appreciate it.

Think big. Act simply. Stay focused.

Last year you were angry and depressed. You had good reason to be, but it’s time to get past that. Think ahead to the places you will be (San Diego, London, Paris), the people you will see (Courtney, Sandra, Maud) and the things you will do (summer movies, Comic-Con, Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part II). And above all, have fun…

I dare you!

(Note: I worked on the top pic as a present. It's on this blog solely due to her kind permission!)

Hold Tight And Pretend It’s A Plan -- An Overview Of The 2011 Doctor Who Christmas Special

2011-12-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

I’ve made no secret of my unabashed love for The BBC’s “Doctor Who”. It’s a show that is on my ‘three shows I follow every year’ list and I’m willing to sit through a mediocre installment to watch the truly great episodes that inevitably follow. Even the mediocre tales of the last of the Time Lords still make great television viewing!

While this year’s special, The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe, was nowhere near as wonderful as last year’s A Christmas Tale, it had many redeeming qualities. What other show has the lead character saving the Earth during the opening three minute sequence? The Doctor destroys an invading alien space ship and plummets to Earth in true James Bond-like fashion!

Crash landing in Christmas 1938 England, The Doctor is helped by Madge Arwell, a kindly housewife. He is so impressed by her compassion that he promises to repay her generosity whenever she wishes. Three Christmases later (amongst the backdrop of the Second World War), the opportunity arises when Madge relocates her two children, Lily and Cyril upon news of her husband’s death over the English Channel.

Seeking shelter from the Nazi blitz, the three enter a house in the English countryside with a most unusual caretaker (The Doctor) to brighten their holiday. The Doctor creates a magical playground for the children, one that includes a package under the Christmas tree which is actually a portal to a snow covered fantasy world. From there the four save the inhabitants of Androzani and Madge’s will enables her husband to find his way back home for a holiday miracle!

Showrunner Steven Moffat did an admirable job reworking C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, but adapting a literature classic in 60 minutes left The Doctor as the only one with any character growth at the end. However, actor Matt Smith conveys an amazing sense of quirkiness, fun (especially acting with the children) and emotion as The Doctor. Where the previous actor in the role (David Tennant) portrayed him as a swashbuckling yet tragic hero, Smith infuses his Doctor with adept yet playful capability.

One must be an actual scrooge to not be moved by the special’s postscript. Amy uses a water pistol to ward off carolers in the present before the former companion realizes that she is squirting The Doctor, giving him the perfect cover to hide his tears of joy as Amy and husband Rory welcome the weary time traveler back into their lives for Christmas dinner.

As someone who encounters unfulfilled expectations and painful obligations at this time every year, it’s nice of have something dependable during the holidays. It just wouldn’t be Christmas (for me, anyway) without The Doctor!

Previous Doctor Who Entry

And kudos to you if you remember the first "Doctor Who" story that takes place in the Androzani system! It's just the most popular "Doctor Who" story ever!

The Tough Girl Prototype

2011-12-10T07:07:00.000-08:00

I may have based the look of my Gigi Gutierrez character as a cross between my friend Colleen and Rachel Welch, but the character's inspiration goes all the way back to the prototype.

Back to Emma Peel.

Portrayed by Dame Diana Rigg on “The Avengers” television series during 1965-68, talented amateur Mrs. Peel partnered with top professional spy John Steed to protect the British realm from enemy spies, diabolical masterminds, and aliens from outer space. Fashion (the catsuit), movies (Ripley, Sarah Conner, Lara Croft), television (Leela, Sarah Walker, Buffy), and even comic books (Wonder Woman, Phoenix, and my very own Gigi) still feel her influence today!

Mrs. Peel turned the traditional damsel-in-distress motif on its ear, rescuing Steed just as often as he rescued her. Not only was she skilled in martial arts, but science, art and business as well. Successfully navigating Joseph Campbell’s Heroic Journey, Emma has in turn been rendered helpless, imperiled and nearly destroyed during her ordeals yet ultimately emerging to claim victory time and time again.

Sexy as she was in public, Emma was loyal to her men: first to Peter Peel, and second to Steed (when Mr. Peel was presumed dead). Beautiful, self-assured and witty, she was what most women aspired to be: Cool Brittania.

However, for my Pretty Vacant purposes, Mrs. Peel did have a dark side! Throughout her 51 episodes, she was bound, gagged, hypnotized, transformed into a robot, and (most memorably), forced to become a dominatrix:

Granted, it was in defense of Queen and Country, but the underlying kinkiness has always been part of her male, or m-appeal.

When I originally conceived of Pretty Vacant, I realized that the main character Gigi needed to be someone the readers could cheer on in the story. She would have to be admired for her ability, her determination, and yes… her looks!

Fans (of both sexes) have told me how they really like the strong woman character in Gigi -- the latest in a long line started by Mrs. Emma Peel.

Have Yourself A Pretty Vacant Christmas (2011)*

2011-12-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Mindy have a Pretty Vacant Christmas
Drugs have sapped your will
Just one coat of plastination
keeps you still

Mindy have a Pretty Vacant Christmas
Be it oh so nice
It’s much better when your
body’s packed in ice

Dressed in sequins your mannequin’s
profit margin’s up this year
And the friend who you dearly prize
we will plasticize right here

Someday Gigi will be frozen with you
When the times allow
you and she will be posed on the highest bough
So Mindy have a Pretty Vacant Christmas now!

*Sung to the melody of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Art by Oscar, WoZ and me. Apologies all around!

KRuNK This!

2011-11-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I Page 13 Panel 3

Protect your ears, ‘cause this post will get loud!

I have harped to death comparing comic book lettering with playing bass in a cool rock band: it sucks! However, every now and then a bone gets tossed their way. Some days when you can hear an awesome bass line on television or the (gasp!) radio, you might see in a comic book the one cool thing a letterer is able to do: the sound effect.

Yes, sound effects in a comic doesn’t mean that you actually hear noise, but (besides the quick nod to Scott McCloud and Rene Magritte) they’re fun! Fun to read, and fun to draw.

Lettered sound effects heighten the action (cool Jack Kirby Captain America)…

drama (my own Pretty Vacant)…

even comedy (intentional or not)…

… and unlike regular text, cannot be altered. Sound effects are part of the final look of a comic book and like lettering, becomes an underappreciated art form. Looking at the top panel in this post, I deliberately shortened the “u” in KRuNK to give the impression that Gigi’s kick to the Amps’ head is going into an imaginary wall!

There’s a movement among certain comic book creators and editors to do any with sound effects, but thankfully it’s still by choice and not decree. They argue that no sound effects make comics more realistic and less campy. Yet even the most acclaimed graphic novel to date, Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, had a hero who wore his underwear outside of his tights. Isn’t that just a bit silly? And for what it’s worth, Dark Knight utilized sound effects!

I’m not suggesting using sound effects all the time, but maybe present and future comic creators could ask themselves if implied silence is the best option when designing pages. Because even silly love songs can reach number one on the charts. Some even have rockin' bass lines!

Previous Lettering Entry
Previous Comic Page Entry

Journey's End For Galaxy

2011-11-21T21:28:00.000-08:00

Beckham to Keane to Donovan. Goal! Championship…

Yes, Los Angeles does have a championship team this year!

It is only fitting that the Los Angeles Galaxy’s three designated players would combine for the only goal of the 2011 MLS Cup, enabling the Galaxy to defeat the Houston Dynamo this past week 1-0.

The three questions asked in this blog at the beginning of the year (Is Donovan still likeable? Does Beckham still have it? Can the team improve?) can now all be answered with an emphatic YES! World class midfielders Landon Donovan and David Beckham had career years, and the team improved dramatically when Irish international Robbie Keane joined the team in August.

Coach Bruce Arena employed a counter-attacking style with the Galaxy. With the league’s best defense (defenders Omar Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant joined Becks and Dono in the MLS Best XI list) containing the opposing team and controlling the ball, Beckham could utilize his patented set piece and passing abilities to place the ball anywhere on the pitch, giving his teammates a chance to score. At first only Donovan could score with any regularity, but with Keane’s arrival the opposing defense was stretched even further, allowing other Galaxy players to score as well.

And at the end of Beckham’s historic five-year contract, one can see the positive changes for the Galaxy and Major League Soccer. MLS matches are shown world-wide, league attendance is up 7% and the Galaxy have just completed a $55 million television deal.

If Beckham doesn’t re-sign with the Galaxy, the team is still in a good position to move forward without him. He has earned the right to play or retire wherever and whenever he chooses. However, he has stated he does enjoy living in the laid back SoCal area, and that’s a good enough reason to stay. After all, I moved back here too!

"Chuck" x5

2011-10-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Since it seems like “Chuck” has been on forever, I’m starting to believe that I can do these posts in my sleep! However, I’m happy to do it, because “Chuck” is still my favorite American TV show, a comedy-action-romance that has a regular guy become a super-spy.

The start of Season Five is as far away from the Series Pilot as can possibly be: Chuck has gone from well-meaning computer geek to spy billionaire, Sarah is no longer Chuck’s handler but is now his wife, and the one thing that made Chuck special -- his ability to access the Intersect -- is now in the head of his best friend, Morgan.

I must admit that I’m looking forward to Morgan antics with the Intersect, but I also like the back-to-basics approach with Chuck. It isn’t the Intersect that made Chuck special, but his ability to come up with an unusual solution to the life-or-death problems all good spies face.

And with Morgan’s new-found super powers, most of the characters have now reached their full potential, except one. I’m happy that my favorite character on the show, Casey, is finally getting a romantic partner! Casey (played by Adam Baldwin) was the lynchpin in the first two seasons, being the only character who could be both lethal and funny. His role has diminished the past two seasons, but it’s cool that the producers haven’t forgotten about him.

With Chuck vs. The Zoom kicking off the new season tonight, “Chuck” enters its final year. Yet there is already speculation that after all that’s been said, the show could still be renewed! For whatever reason, NBC’s primetime is still a mess, and “Chuck” consistently makes money for the network. I myself am going to take a wait-and-see approach, just being grateful that we’re being given another thirteen episodes with these characters!

Previous Chuck Post

In My Song There Rings A Melody -- An Overview Of Doctor Who Series Six

2011-10-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

I held back posting this because my friend Rachel had yet to see this year’s finale of "Doctor Who", but if she hasn’t seen it by now, I doubt she ever will.

Yes, you probably knew all along that River Song (i.e. Melody Pond) was the daughter of Amy and Rory. And you probably knew that River was in prison due to killing The Doctor. Yet I don’t believe many of us knew how The Doctor was going to cheat his own death, a fixed point in time!

This year’s series of The BBC's "Doctor Who" revolved around The Doctor dying in the first episode and circumventing his death in the last, The Wedding Of River Song. Showrunner Steven Moffat did a wonderful job leaving the clues for the viewer throughout the series that enabled the last of the Time Lords to escape his fate.

Despite the overall story arc, there was still plenty of good old-fashioned time and space adventure! Even super-sexy Amy got into the fun, being a swashbuckling pirate (The Curse Of The Black Spot) in one episode to a futuristic robo-fighter (The Girl Who Waited) in another.

I truly enjoyed the diversity of the episodes for this series, with the comedic (Let’s Kill Hitler), the touching (Closing Time), and the just plain odd (A Good Man Goes To War). And like Series Five, my favorite episode this year was not written by Moffat. The honor goes to Neil Gaiman’s superlative The Doctor’s Wife, where The Doctor comes face-to-face with his oldest and most faithful companion: his own Tardis.

Just when I think that Moffat can do no wrong, we get the wedding of River (the amazing Alex Kingston) and The Doctor. That’s okay in-and-of-itself, but didn’t we have the wedding of Amy and Rory last year? However, Moffat did give us The Silence, the creepiest set of villains since Moffat created The Weeping Angels. And he did give The Doctor the direction for next year’s series, where the question hidden in plain sight, “Doctor who?” may finally be answered.

I am going to miss Arthur Darvill (Rory) and Karen Gillan (Amy), but I have become absolutely enamored by Matt Smith’s portrayal of The Doctor. The BBC must feel the same way, picking up Smith’s option, ensuring the he will be The Doctor through the show’s fiftieth anniversary in 2013.

That’s at least two more years of a mad man with a blue box on a show created for ten year old British kids. That's cool!

Previous Doctor Who Entry

The Moneyball Approach To Pretty Vacant

2011-09-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

Gigi's Fastball Special!

Moneyball came out this month and it’s brilliant: a movie with good acting and great writing concerning my favorite sport! Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s who fielded a winning baseball club in 2002 by evaluating talent and player’s statistics using unorthodox methods.

Knowing his team couldn’t buy good players via free agency like the super-rich New York Yankees, Beane focused on players who were overlooked but could contribute to a baseball team in different (and cheaper) ways. He realized that while home runs may be exciting, unassuming bases on balls could be just as effective.

In the same vein, Mike made more money than me at the Bare Bones Studio booth during this year’s Comic-Con. Yet a closer look at the numbers reveals that Mike made most of his money selling t-shirts, not off Pocketbook Heroes #3, his studio's latest comic. PH #3 has not yet covered the cost of its print run. Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I did sell out, covering its print run and part of the booth cost as well. It didn't happen with flashing neon signs or expensive ads, but by simply and quickly explaining the book’s premise to potential readers (and a little assistance from Mike and his "stickmen").

Moneyball isn’t really about baseball, and Pretty Vacant isn’t really just a comic book about a young woman trying to avoid a plastinated fate (remember it was originally a movie script). Both are really about being creative over giving up. Zigging where most will zag. IMHO Pretty Vacant is still a killer movie disguised as a comic book, but if it wasn't reinvented from celluloid to paper, there would have been no Gigi character, no re-acquaintance with old friends (Mike, Rob, Sandra, Carlos etc.) and no blog!

It’s not perfect. Oakland did not win the World Series that year and DC Comic’s latest, Justice League #1, has sold over 200,000 copies more than Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I. All we’ve done was convince people that insiders do not keep an iron grasp on building a baseball contender or creating an entertaining read.

And since DC raised the prices of their comics to four dollars per issue, maybe I can do that with Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part II next year.

What Are Words For, When No One Listens Anymore?

2011-09-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

It’s been over two years since I blogged about lettering in comics. Unfortunately, it’s still the same today. Nobody cares when it’s good, and everyone notices when it’s bad.

Normal comic book pages (unless you’re in Japan) read left-to-right, top-to-bottom. When James got my script for Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I, he decided to spruce up Page One to grab the reader (as if Gigi being sedated via injection-by-needle wasn’t attention grabbing enough!). James spruced it up all right, but he placed the second-to-last panel directly above the last:

How is the reader supposed to follow the story when the sequence is challenging? If you remember my post regarding conversations I’ve had with Neal Adams, controlling the eye is key for a comics page. In this case I carefully positioned word balloons which guide the reader to the correct panel:

I don’t mean for this post to be a tutorial, and I certainly hope it doesn’t come off as a rant. Sometimes you just have to make things work. Sometimes it even turns out for the best!

Kudos to you if you remember the song that had the lyric in this post’s title!

Galatic Outreach -- A Midseason Review Of The LA Galaxy

2011-08-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

The new Big Three, courtesy of the LA Galaxy!

Coach Bruce Arena called the match between CD Montagua of Honduras and his LA Galaxy the most important of the year and the Galaxy responded with a convincing 2-0 victory this week. It was fun watching David Beckham set up the second goal, faking out the defender marking him and crossing the ball to team captain Landon Donovan, who scored so ferociously that the net barely contained his shot!

Soccer is different from other American sports in that a team could be in several meaningful competitions at the same time. Winning last year’s Supporter Shield enabled the Galaxy to qualify for the international Concacaf Champion’s League, which runs concurrent with the regular Major League Soccer season.

The start of the CCL gives reason to reexamine the three questions asked in an earlier post when the MLS season got underway in March: 1) Is the star (Donovan) still likeable? 2) Does the sex symbol (Beckham) still have it? and 3) Can the team improve? While the first two questions are an emphatic yes (world-class midfielders Donovan and Beckham are league leaders in scoring and assists, respectively), the third question is a little tougher to answer.

The Galaxy currently boast the best record in MLS, but most of their goals have come from Donovan in the run of play, or from a set piece started by Beckham. Galaxy forwards (where most of the goals should come) have scored only 10 goals altogether through 25 matches, whereas Donovan has scored 11 himself! Even the likeable forward Juan Pablo Angel has been a disappointment this year, only scoring three goals in 22 matches.

Watching the Montagua match made the Galaxy’s problems at forward obvious. Starting forward Adam Cristman scored the first goal of the match with a wonderful strike, but he should have scored two more, not scoring what seemed to be goals that were impossible to miss!

The Galaxy, to their credit, have addressed the issue by trading Angel and acquiring the services of Irish international Robbie Keane from the English club Tottenham. Keane is a proven scorer (being the first MLS transfer that involved cash paid to another club), and four years younger than Angel. Granted there may be ulterior motives to the transfer (Keane was no longer a starter at Tottenham and his model wife is excited by the opportunities LA offers to a beautiful lady), but Keane’s arrival is welcome.

Opposing defenses have pushed up the field against the Galaxy, hoping to keep the Galaxy out of set piece range. While Donovan has the speed and skill to overcome that formation, crowding the Galaxy when Donovan is fatigued makes them vulnerable, as shown when an expansion club, The Portland Timbers, defeated them last month 3-0. Keane’s arrival should stretch out the opposition, not only giving him chances to score, but also giving time and space for Donovan and Beckham to operate.

Arena does not usually make big changes halfway through a season, but with international play starting and the regular MLS league winding down, he decided to gamble with Keane. But the rewards (national and international success) are great, and well worth the risk!

Update: Granted, it was against the eighth-place San Jose Earthquakes, but what a debut for Keane!

E-7 -- Where Comics Live!

2011-07-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

How many breaks do you get in a lifetime?

Comic-Con International: San Diego has once again come and gone. I’m happy it’s over, and happy because I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Apparently redemption comes acute, obtuse, straight and right!

Just as Comic-Con has changed over the years, so has the make-up of the Bare Bones Studios booth. Mike (our bunny-eared leader), Killer Robot Rob and I shared table space while Carlos roamed the vicinity. This year we were joined by Alethea (a-LEE-thee-a), who published her novel Angels Of Redemption. With my latest issue, Pretty Vacant: Final Repose, combined with Bare Bones Studios t-shirts, current copy of Pocketbook Heroes and a seemingly endless supply of free action (stick) figures, we were ready to rock!

Not only was the product different from last year, so was the group dynamic. Alethea brought two of her children, Gabriel and Sterling, and this year my sister and my friends David, Steve and Courtney joined my nieces and me in San Diego. I received no end of teasing regarding Courtney’s youthful appearance, with Rob jokingly (I think) questioning if I was a sexual deviant. As a tax preparer certified by the IRS, I have to ask the date of birth of all my clients, including Courtney’s, and yes -- she’s legal!

Between selling Pretty Vacant and drawing customized faces on stickmen, there wasn’t as much time to spend with family and friends. Yet a reprieve came from an unlikely source: Sterling. He also started drawing faces on stick figures and began handing them out. My primary function at the booth temporarily halted, I was happy to enjoy the Con! I made the most of it, squeezing in my traditional Friday lunch at Dick’s Last Resort with my best friend (at Comic-Con) Rodney, watching the “Chuck” panel and the Captain America (in 3-D!) movie with my nieces, while hanging out at Dustin and Sandra’s booth behind Bare Bones.

Sandra sold her Banzai Chicks items while dressed as characters from the late, lamented “Legend of The Seeker”, while her husband Dustin presented his iPad app Poker With Bob in a playable format for the show. So playable, in fact, that Rob and I had fun pointing out which attendees had gambling addiction problems to Dustin! It was ideal to have the two behind me, as it was easy to pass on attendee-paid copies of Pretty Vacant to Sandra to autograph with me, as Sandra did paint the cover to my comic!

Sandra and I posing with a copy of Pretty Vacant: Final Repose.

Thanks to Mike, I was still able to sell out at the show! Hardcore selling at the last hour of the Con ensured this, even if Rob bought my last book just to shut Carlos up! I returned the favor to Alethea by purchasing two out of the last five copies of her novel left at the show.

With Mike away from the booth for part of the last day, Rob and I had our one serious discussion. Rob wondered if we had wasted our breaks. We have all been relatively successful with comics, television and film in the past. Now, here we are in our 40s trying to sell comics at a comic convention that really isn’t about comics anymore. We (minus Sandra) still have our day jobs. However, Rob’s son drew the inside cover of Pocketbook Heroes, my nieces have said the reason they took up drawing was because of me, and Alethea’s sons like to cosplay as the Killer Robot with Rob and tell me that their faces on stickmen are better than mine. All I can say is that it doesn’t really matter what we do now, but what we leave after we’re gone…

… and that’s what ~~Christmas~~ Comic-Con is all about, Charlie Brown!

Rob made the front page of the San Diego Union-Tribune with his costume!

Lastly, I do hope the lady with the best smile in Comic-Con comes back next year!

Previous Comic-Con entry

“Chuck” Comic-Con Panel: We’re Doomed…

2011-07-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

An unintended consequence of major Hollywood movie studios pulling out of this year’s Comic-Con has been that turnout for television series panels in Ballroom 20 have overflowed past its capacity of 4,250 people. Case in point: My nieces, my good friend Rodney and I waited two hours in line to attend this morning’s “Chuck” panel and barely got inside, sitting in the second-to-last row!

The audience was treated to an opening video clip of Josh Gomez (Morgan) being trained by Ryan McPartlin (Captain Awesome) Rocky-style to Jeffster! singing “Eye Of The Tiger”. It just has to be seen to be believed, and fortunately has already been posted on the ‘net.

After the cast and producer Chris Fedak took their seats, the panel started in earnest. Zac Levi (Chuck) spoke about how he would like “Chuck” to end after five years. Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah) mentioned that her favorite episode was “Chuck vs. Phase 3”. And unlike last year, the moderator was smart enough this year to allow enough time for questions from the audience.

Most of the questions were predictable and easy to answer, but one question in particular put Fedak on the spot: If Chuck was the only one who can handle the Intersect, how come so many other people have had the Intersect uploaded into them during the past two seasons? After hemming and hawing, Fedak finally said that the Intersect affects people in different ways, and will somewhat highlight the Intersect’s effect on Morgan early in Season Five.

Some cast members were sad that the show is in its final season, while others were still unconvinced of the finality. Mark Christopher Lawrence (Big Mike) opined the best way for “Chuck” to end: funny!

I just wish that the free promotional t-shirt given to me during the panel would fit me…

I can do-- this!

2011-07-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Once again it's that time of year where everything I've worked on privately is presented to 130,000 of the most critical people one can ever meet. If any of you who read this blog can make it to Comic-Con this year, my booth is E-7. Please say kind things to me!

And bring me a gift as the Monday before Comic Con is my birthday! Twenties and higher, please!

God Loves Me Anyway -- The New G.A.R.D.E. at 10!

2011-07-03T22:47:00.000-07:00

People are surprised when they visit my house that I only have one page of my original artwork framed on a wall. I’m happy with that, because it’s my favorite comic art page: Page Six of The New G.A.R.D.E. Special Edition!

The New G.A.R.D.E.’s premise is that yesterday’s heroes could show today’s cynical world what it truly takes to be a hero. Released ten years ago this month, The New G.A.R.D.E. was sponsored by the late, lamented Blockbuster Video, and it is currently the only comic of my work that’s been accepted in San Diego State University’s special collection for their Library.

G.A.R.D.E. stood for Genetically Altered Radically Different Entities, and despite being the only character that did not have a super-power, Tour de Force became my favorite! Not because she was an unusual cross between Batman and Annie Oakley, but because she was based on a very bon ami (good friend) who lives in France.

Tour de Force was cool because she was the only one on The New G.A.R.D.E. that could make a precision strike. That ability was helpful when The New G.A.R.D.E. had to capture a President of a foreign country wanted for crimes against humanity. While the other members of the team kept President Silec’s armed forces busy, Tour de Force sneaked inside his fortress to capture him personally:

I combined a Jackie Chan action sequence (TdF leaping past security lasers) with my personal thoughts on God’s Grace (“God loves me anyway”). That makes it special for me!

Even ten years on.

Green: The No Fun Color!

2011-06-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t able to watch the Green Lantern movie until the Tuesday after its initial opening weekend. By then I was aware of the negative reviews, but I was still determined to watch a movie based on my favorite childhood super-hero. Yet something surprising happened to me during the movie --

I began to enjoy it!

Good movie critics explain their reasoning behind why they may like or dislike a movie. Most of the negative reasons are valid (honest!), but they left out one thing I got of Green Lantern: fun!

There was extensive negative press during the filming of Green Lantern and I can’t help but think that the negativity flowed into the reviews. I remember having such low expectations for the first X-Men movie eleven years ago that I was stunned when the movie exceeded them. Now I wonder if expectations are too high.

I was especially surprised at the criticism of the story itself. If critics can embrace the epic (Green Lantern defending Earth against the Fear-Mongering Parallax), why couldn’t they embrace the cornball (The very funny subversion of the super-hero secret identity)? And no one should have problems with the theme of overcoming fear (even the fear of showing fear).

Nobody sets out to make a bad movie. Sometimes it just turns out that way, but I don’t see it in Green Lantern. And they are making a sequel whether you want to see it or not. Then maybe more people can ignore the bad press and see how fun the movie can be on its own terms!

The Process: Gigi Gutierrez, Attack Angel

2011-06-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

(Note: the first of a series giving homage to the process of creating a new twist to an old story.)

Pretty Vacant: Final Repose has the main character Gigi being helplessly plastinated as the body mold for department store mannequins offered by an evil corporation before somehow breaking free to kick major butt! Just when things look bleakest, Gigi's perilous situation is reversed for her to gain the upper hand.

Gigi’s storyline mirrors the Julie character in the “Charlie’s Angels” episode Attack Angels. Thirty years ago this month Attack Angels debuted on television and now is an ideal time to pay our respects!

Charlie’s top three detectives Kelly, Kris and Julie are hired to find out who is trying to takeover/kill the board of Western Techtronics. Kelly and Kris go undercover as junior executives at WT, while Julie is sent to investigate Reardon and Co, a temp firm that loans out temporary secretaries to WT.

It turns out the Reardon hypnotizes their assistants and uses them as secretarial killers-for-hire. Using standardized employee skills tests like typing and light hypnotic indoctrination, Julie is turned into a robotic assassin! Julie attacks Steve Briggs (head of WT), but is stopped after a fierce struggle with Kelly and Kris. Realizing what happened, Julie is quickly deprogrammed and the three detectives turn the tables on Reardon.

Julie looks completely helpless for much of the episode, but proceeds to beat up everyone: bad guys (Reardon), neutral guys (Briggs), even good girls (Kelly)!

Gigi has that same resilience in Pretty Vacant. The Still Life corporation has smarts, money and science over Gigi, but she is tough enough to take whatever they throw at her and make them pay for what they did! You can cue the “Charlie’s Angels” theme now…

The Pretty Vacant Marketing Strategy

2011-05-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

The plan behind the Pretty Vacant comic book is simple: Have a striking cover containing a powerful story with decent interior artwork. A good comic book may speak for itself, but sometimes a special push is needed for someone to buy it. Every good comic book creator has more than one way to sell his/her book.

In the old days when distributing a comic book, one would provide a cover and a brief description of the comic for the distributor’s catalogue. However, since there is only one true distributor of comics these days, it’s tougher to distribute a comic to stores.

That’s why comic book conventions are springing up all throughout the US and in some areas of Europe. Granted, one must have books available to sell at these shows, but you get to travel to fascinating places and show off your book to the masses!

The best way to sell a book is by word-of-mouth. You talk to people about your book and they talk to people about your book (selling a book within 30 seconds of talking is a good goal). The second best is the comic’s cover. If anything, a cover can draw in a person without having to speak to him/her. That being said, here is the cover for Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part I, courtesy of Sandra:

Sandra sells cool crafts at comics conventions, is very skilled in martial arts and can train dogs. And she did the cover!

Chuck Me Baby One More Time (2011)!

2011-05-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

“Chuck” has managed to do something Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Kirk were not able to do: get their shows renewed for a fifth season!

Other shows with better ratings have fallen by the wayside (RIP “V” and “Human Target”), triggering a backlash against “Chuck”. Many are wondering how a little-watched show (five million viewers is low in America) could take preference over more popular offerings. Is it the fan-base (Hulu’s Best In Show 2011 Winner) giving the show a presence beyond mere television? Is it the in-show advertising from Subway, Toyota and Call Of Duty? Or is it because of the positive reviews from influential critics? All could well be true, but maybe this time it just comes down to money.

Because of its tech-savvy demographic, ad rates for the show are still relatively high. Couple that with a lowered fee from a Warner Brothers studio motivated by extra episodes for syndication, and that gives a profitable formula for NBC -- which means extra episodes for Chuck, Sarah and Casey!

It has been a fun, if choppy, Season Four for “Chuck”. I did like Casey (Alex Baldwin) and Morgan (Josh Gomez) becoming apartment mates, the Gretas, the search for Chuck’s mom, and Alexei Volkoff. I didn’t like care much for Casey reconciling with his ex-wife, the Gretas, Chuck (Zac Levi) trying to please Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and his mom (while pleasing no one), and Vivian Volkoff. Maybe I am being too hard on Lauren Cohan, the actress who plays Vivian. Timothy Dalton is so good at playing Alexei when he was the season’s main villain, Cohan may be compared to Dalton unfairly. Either way I hope this gets resolved by season’s end.

The main reason why this season was so choppy is because of NBC’s handling of “Chuck”. Originally scheduled for only 13 episodes, NBC upped the order to 24, leaving the producers and writers scrambling for new ideas. Some worked and some didn’t. A case in point is Chuck Vs. The Wedding Planner. It started off as a slapstick comedy (Sarah imitating Chuck’s flash and Chuck going spastic on a Super Shuttle van) before turning into a poignant drama (Sarah resolving her feelings for her father and Casey reconciling with his ex-wife) at the end. This choppiness was evident for the whole season.

Choppiness will not be Chuck’s problem next year. NBC will announce that Season Five will be the show’s final year. “Chuck” flirted with cancellation every year, but will end its run as a rare show that never had to be cancelled! “Chuck” can end on its own terms, while we are treated to one last season. And after next year, maybe Yvonne can be the star in the retooled “Wonder Woman” show I keep hearing about!

I know there’s still one more episode May 16th, but I’m going to do my best list now. Does anybody really believe that Sarah’s going to die in this year’s season finale?

My Favorite Episode: Chuck Vs. Phase Three. I’m choosing this one over Chuck Vs. The Couch Lock because even though kick-butt Sarah is not a cool as a paralyzed Casey, I had the episodes in reverse order with a previous post.

My Favorite Line: “Is that a gun? No…”

Best Greta: When the CIA finally phased out the Greta program.

Coolest Moments (I’m claiming three): 1) When Morgan helped Casey overcome his paralysis drug by informing him that he was dating his daughter Alex, 2) When Sarah tore up half of Asia looking for her missing Chuck, and 3) When Chuck got Morgan into Morgan’s Italian hitman cover by humming Darth Vader’s Imperial March Theme.

Charah Scene: "Just remember, (Chuck) Bartowski: Sarah's the one you're going to be sleeping next to every day. She's the one you protect." -Casey

Previous Chuck Entry

We'll See The Doctor Now -- A Preview of "Doctor Who" Series Six

2011-04-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

“Look: there’s a blue box, it’s bigger on the inside, it can go anywhere in space and time, sometimes even where it’s supposed to. There’s a bloke in the box, he’s called ‘The Doctor’ and when he gets where he’s going there’s going to be a problem and he’ll try to solve it and he’ll probably succeed because he’s awesome. Now shut up and go watch ‘Blink.’”
-- Neil Gaiman discussing “Doctor Who” at WonderCon 2011

Gaiman’s summation of The BBC’s “Doctor Who” is simple and effective. It’s a television show that can go anywhere at any time. You don’t need to watch it from the beginning in 1963, or watch Tom Baker in the role from 1974 (like me), or even start from David Tennant’s run in 2005. Most tv shows have a “been there, seen that” feel after a few years (see NBC’s “Chuck”), but because of its premise, the new series* of “Doctor Who” (which starts tonight) seems fresher than ever.

A large part of this crisp feel is the show’s ever-changing cast. Matt Smith, the 11th actor portraying the last of the Time Lords, plays The Doctor as an old soul with boyish charm. Add the amazingly sexy Karen Gillan as his capable companion Amy Pond and the not-so-impressive Arthur Darvill as Amy’s faithful husband Rory and you have a potent mix onscreen. This dynamic was summed up best by Gaiman when he talked about a scene he wrote for an upcoming episode:

"Amy tells Rory off for leaving the Doctor on his own, and Rory says, 'Well, he's a Time Lord, he'll be fine.’ And she looks at Rory with infinite compassion and says, 'Rory, it's just what they're called. It doesn't mean he actually knows what he's doing.’”

The series starts off as The Doctor, Amy and Rory team up with the enigmatic River Song (Alex Kingston) take on the underlying villain(s) of last year, The Silence, in the 1969 America of moonshots and Nixon. With the added budget for this year, “Doctor Who” actually got to film in America, with English viewers finally discovering that America actually IS bigger on the inside!

While I’m not crazy about the producers plan to split this year’s series in two (seven in spring, six in fall), I do like Steven Moffat’s (“Doctor Who’s” showrunner and head writer) track record on the show. And if this year’s slogan says “Trust Your Doctor”, then I guess I can this once!

* The English say tv series while Americans say tv season. Yet another reason why Americans declared independence!

People In Motion -- WonderCon 2011

2011-04-06T22:00:00.001-07:00

I arrived for WonderCon 15 minutes before the show started last Friday. I wasn’t going to miss Opening Day at Dodger Stadium for a simple comic book show…

San Francisco’s WonderCon could be considered Comic-Con Light, but to me it became much more than that. It is operated by the same people that handle Comic-Con; however, the vibe is different. Attendees are more discerning, more open, and yes – more friendly.

I was with Bare Bones Studios (as usual) and its bunny-eared leader, Mike. With Sandra having her own table at artist’s alley, Rob saving homeless dogs and Carlos who-knows-where, Mike and I partnered with Dave, a writer from the San Francisco area.

I brought revised copies of Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase while Dave offered posters and Savior, a full-throttle sci-fi prison break comic book. There was the recognizable assortment of Bare Bones books (including “the worst comic book ever”), but the big surprise was that Mike actually sold his own product: T-shirts with sarcastic musings. There were humorous sayings as THE ONLY STUPID QUESTION IS THE ONE YOU JUST ASKED or ZOMBIES EIGHT MY FRIENDS BRAIN BUT KNOT MYNE? and I DON’T LIVE WITH MY MOM, SHE LIVES WITH ME.

We tried giving away free stickmen on the first day but attendees were reluctant to take them. Mike and I rethought the strategy over dinner at Subway and reorganized the table for Saturday, emphasizing our favorite T-shirts on the table while keeping the other shirts on a display rack that was visible to people walking by. I wore the “MOM” shirt in support. We developed our own style to show off the T-shirts: Mike motioning to the shirts on the table like “The Price Is Right” ladies while I underlined the shirts on display mimicking the hostess on “Wheel of Fortune.”

It worked.

The proceeds Mike made were the most he had from any show! There were times where I felt that Dave’s stuff was selling better than mine despite Dave constantly leaving the table to show publishers Savior, but I started with 95 issues of Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase and ended up with four at WonderCon’s end, so I had a very good show as well! I was especially pleased that I was able to sell a good number of books simply by explaining Pretty Vacant’s premise.

Sandra and I at WonderCon. Never take a picture on the last day of a show!

Hanging out with friends is always fun (especially when Sandra wore an outfit similar to Cara from the late, lamented “Legend of the Seeker”), and I got the one thing I wanted to buy at WonderCon for free: a Doctor Who T-shirt, courtesy of BBC America! Being fortunate enough to attend the “Doctor Who” panel on Sunday, it was astonishing that Who panelist Neil Gaiman summed up my favorite television show in 30 seconds!

Other comic shows leave me worn and battered, but WonderCon was an uplifting experience for me! Sure it’s in a beautiful city and it’s only three days instead of five, but the one thing that struck me was the number of people who came up to me who wanted to do his or her own comic book! I have felt that once I was gone, the comic book tradition would go with me. Yet seeing these kids (anyone younger than me is now a “kid”) wanting to create comic books makes me happy beyond belief!

And maybe next year I’ll skip opening day to arrive early. After all, the Los Angeles Dodgers are just a simple baseball team…

Previous Comic-Con Entry
Previous Doctor Who Entry
Previous LA Dodgers Entry
Previous Legend of The Seeker Entry

Galaxy Quest

2011-03-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have friends who love sports and friends who love television shows, but they rarely mix. Yet I see the great passion in both: sports fans allow their bodies to be painted in the colors of their team, while TV fans eat sandwiches to keep alive series they watch. With this in mind, I will write on the upcoming season of a sports team through the lens someone who watches way too much television. I only hope my friends can understand my passion to combine their passions.

One of the five remaining original (and unchanged) teams from the first Major League Soccer (MLS) season of 1996, the LA Galaxy have started another season. As someone worn down by all the off-season drama by the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, I actually find the main storylines of the upcoming 2011 Galaxy season refreshing, as they deal with the club and not the ownership or cash flow issues:

Is the star of the ~~show~~ Galaxy still likeable? People may not realize this, but team captain Landon Donovan is the best player on the team. The world-class midfielder is in high demand elsewhere, playing in England on loan and with the US National Team in South Africa. While I appreciate him single-handedly saving Team USA from early elimination in last year’s World Cup, he did seem bone tired when he came back to Los Angeles late in the 2010 season. I do think that fatigue finally caught up to Donovan and the Galaxy when they lost to FC Dallas in last year’s playoffs. But now, the fully-rested star seems determined to help the team settle for nothing less than winning the playoffs this year!

Does the sex symbol still have it? David Beckham has been a polarizing figure to Galaxy fans as some question his commitment and desire. I do admire fans wanting to put the team in front of the player, but the truth is that some people are bigger than the ~~show~~ team that employs them. As long as Beckham doesn’t anger his bosses (like Babe Ruth, or Charlie Sheen for that matter), they will put up with his flaws. The England International remains the preeminent set piece player in soccer, placing the ball exactly where he wants it. As player who desires to be loved, Beckham wants a fairy-tale ending. What better way to achieve that than winning the championship in the last year of his contract?

Can the ~~show~~ team improve? Because of the salary cap, the best way to have a good team in MLS is to have a core group of players and surround them with inexpensive salaried players who can play better over time. This makes the head coach crucial, and the Galaxy have one of the best in Bruce Arena. Arena has stocked the team with promising young players (Rookie of The Year winners/defenders Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzalez) where possible and proven veterans like Columbian striker Juan Pablo Angel (who should take the scoring burden off Donovan) when needed. And I see great things for 22-year old Brazilian midfielder Juninho, who scored the only goal in the Galaxy’s first match this year against Seattle. He is a major factor in LA’s bend-don’t-break counterattacking style of play.

What I truly like about the ~~show~~ LA Galaxy this year is their all out assault for a championship in 2011! This is a culmination of a five-year plan that started with the signing of Beckham in January 2007. There are few things more fun that watching a team or show with little to lose and everything to gain. For me, this is like watching the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers or Manchester United’s 1999 Treble or Season Two of “Chuck” or the last five episodes of David Tennant’s run on “Doctor Who”. This is an exciting time, and I’m happy to be along for the ride!

Previous LA Galaxy Entry

It's Blue!

2011-03-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

When I wrote the first Pretty Vacant comic, I realized if Gigi were to be frozen by the evil Still Life Corporation that the story essentially would be over. Because of this, Gigi’s friend/teammate Mindy is forced to undergo the process in order to highlight the danger for the reader.

Given the green light for two more issues of Pretty Vacant, I wanted to plot a story where Gigi would be frozen yet leave a way to revive her by the end. That’s how Pretty Vacant: Final Repose came to be!

Sometimes a picture says everything! Here are the upcoming cover penciled by my friend Josh:

Curly

2011-02-28T05:37:00.000-08:00

Carl Richard Stemen passed away last month, and it’s taken me a month to find the will to post this. Many people referred to him as Dick, but I always called him Mr. Stemen (although I sometimes called him “Curly” when he was not around). After I turned 40, I started to greet people by his or her first name. I stopped greeting people with “Mister” or “Misses” except Mr. Stemen. I respected him that much.

We had plans, Curly and I. We would have lunch at the care facility where he and his wife lived. He would ask me about my upcoming comic books, and I would ask him about his barbershop quartet. We would call each other after “Chuck” and discuss that night’s episode. And we would attend Dodger games, not to fund the owner’s tight cash flow or his divorce case, but to support the team.

A heart attack on January 28th took away those plans.

Upon word of his passing, accolades for Mr. Stemen began to circulate in e-mails from members of the church that we attend, Shepherd of The Valley Presbyterian Church in Hacienda Heights, CA. I e-mailed a tribute, since Curly’s arrangements would be a family affair. I believed that the congregation would like me to say something about a unique relationship that was somewhere between father-son and best friends.

On the day of Mr. Stemen’s memorial service, my tiny church overflowed with people who wished to pay their respects. Many spoke up during the service. I was tempted myself, but I knew I would break down and not be able to convey how much he meant to me. Yet the pastor knew. She started to read for the mourners some of the e-mails that were sent out. And finally she read mine:

“I don't know why Mr. Stemen ever took a liking to me, but his generosity is something I will always cherish. He was genuinely interested in my activities, and we broke bread often over the 34 years I have known him: lunches at Morningside, refreshments at SOTV and Dodger Dogs at Dodger Stadium. He had a wonderful capacity to get along with everyone, being a person who can state an opinion yet be a bridge between people whenever there was disagreement. I still try to emulate his example…”

I still do, whether it is serving on session, preparing tax forms or working on my next comic project!

Race To The Middle -- "Chuck" at Season Four's Midpoint

2011-02-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Now that I’m back from the floating fortress of fun, here are some thoughts at the midway point of Season Four…

I wish that NBC would have given “Chuck” a definite 24 episodes when they renewed the show last spring. That way the producers could have planned their story arcs for the entire season rather than only 13 episodes. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, yet I think that the season so far has felt rushed. That being said, I really did enjoy the three episodes after “Chuck” came back from winter hiatus.

The Volkoff storyline wrapped up with Chuck (Zac Levi) defeating Volkoff (the amazing Timothy Dalton), Dark Sarah rising (Yvonne Strahovski channeling her inner Emma Peel), and reuniting Chuck’s mom with Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) as the latter gives birth to Jeffster's redition of Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s “Push It”.

Saving the budget for episode 13 (Chuck vs. The Push Mix) did lead to some awkward effects moments for the two episodes that proceeded it (like the green screen mimicing France in Chuck vs. The Balcony), but the acting by Levi, Strahovski and Adam Baldwin (Casey!) always overcomes any reservations I have.

And as I’ve mentioned before, I do like that the action is less dependent on special effects. The last three episodes have given us some great action scenes: the Casey/Sarah ~~fake~~ real fight (Chuck vs. The Gobbler), Chuck fighting French terrorists while not spilling a drop of wine in his glass, and Casey cobblering Volkoff’s assassin with a bonsai plant. Even Morgan (Joshua Gomez) got into the act when he navigated deadly laser beams using nothing but yoga!

With every plot end tied up neatly (as the producers didn’t know at the time about the additional episodes), “Chuck” is reverting back to reusing characters from previous seasons as the next two episodes deal with the return of the legendary debonair spy Roan Montgomery and Sarah’s best friend/enemy Carina. While I do enjoy certain stand-alone episodes (Season 2’s Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer being my favorite), “Chuck” works better when it is moving through a story arc. The producers have promised a big storyline with Ellie, so I’m looking forward to that. And since “Chuck” is reusing characters, could they please bring back Mary Bartowski (Linda Hamilton) and Volkoff?

As for my feelings regarding a fifth season, they still haven’t changed. “Chuck” always manages to have great episodes despite the odds against it, and I’m willing to bet this time that NBC will continue to renew it!

My Favorite Episode (so far): Chuck vs. The Couch Lock. Yes, it is a stand-alone episode, but paralyzed Casey was so cool!

My Favorite Line (so far): “After all, I am my father’s son, aren’t I?” I liked the biblical tone Chuck used when he said it.

Best Greta: I don’t know what happened to the Gretas. I hope the producers bring them back.

My Coolest Moment (so far): Chuck taking down Volkoff with his computer knowledge and the overwhelming non-violent support of the US Military. Honorable Mention: Jeffster! performing “Push It” in the maternity ward – almost as good as their performance in Ellie and Awesome’s first wedding.

Charah Scene (so far): Chuck proposing to Sarah in the hallway of a hospital. The way the focus in this scene centered on the floor cleaner and not Chuck and Sarah was wonderfully done, and the perfect Aw… moment!

And Then There Was... James!

2011-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Page 13 pencils for upcoming Pretty Vacant: Final Repose

Working with an artist is never easy. If John Lennon and Paul McCartney ultimately could not get along, what chance do the rest of us have?

I was sad when Oscar informed me that he would not have time to pencil my latest script, Pretty Vacant: Final Repose. Oscar designed the Gigi character and helped me guide her through two comic book adventures. He just couldn’t be replaced, yet the project had to move forward.

Finding an artist was the main reason why I decided to share a table with my friend/inker Robert at the Long Beach Comic Con last Halloween. It wasn’t nearly as busy as the San Diego Comic Con, giving me the chance to ask fellow comic creators about working with me. Yet all of the artists were busy with their own projects. Aside from my friends Sandra and Josh willing to do covers, I still needed an interior pencil artist.

The brainstorm hit me two weeks later: I would advertise for a pencil artist online!

Penciller/Artist Wanted (Los Angeles/Ventura area)

Pencil artist wanted for upcoming 48 page action/sci-fi/damsel-in-distress comic book based on the premise of how mad scientists make money to fund their evil experiments! This is a PG-13 comic but does have provocative situations.

Pay is small, but there is full artistic credit and assistance in obtaining professional status at Comic-Con ($125 value per year)!

I uploaded the ad believing that I would get perhaps three responses in 15 days.

I got 15 in three days!

Five thought the small pay was too little and immediately dropped out, but how was I going to pick from the last ten? By e-mailing the rest asking for art samples of Gigi. Four sent samples. They were all very good, but I had to tell Dave, Pepe and Bianca that I would go with James.

Lennon and McCartney’s partnership lasted twelve years. As for James and myself, can't we all just get along for 48 pages!

The Christmas Carol RX: An Overview Of The Doctor Who 2010 Christmas Special

2010-12-26T00:20:00.000-08:00

When I first heard that “Doctor Who” show-runner Steven Moffat was basing this year’s Christmas Special on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, by first thought was (rather sarcastically): God bless us, every one. Yet somehow Moffat wrote a 60 minute episode that managed to soften even my cynical disposition!

Summoned by his companion/assistant Amy Pond to save the crashing star liner where she and now-husband Rory are spending their honeymoon, the Doctor lands his Tardis on a planet where the skies are controlled by an old miser by the name of Kazan Sardick (played by Michael Gambon). When Sardick refuses to open the skies so the star liner could land (crashing to him is “kind of a landing”), the Doctor uses the Christmas Carol motif to change Sardick’s heart, with the help of a flying shark, a frozen beauty and a half-masticated sonic screwdriver.

I know that the premise just sounds ridiculous on paper, but it works! Gambon is completely believable as a person who can still change his ways despite the years and the heartbreaks. Karen Gillan’s Amy is as feisty as ever, putting her comedic talents and her legs to good use. I wasn’t sure why an opera singer originally was needed for the role of the cryogenically preserved Abigail, but the casting of Katherine Jenkins was pitch perfect as her voice calmed sharks and opened skies while her beauty and kindness won Sardick over!

What can I say about Matt Smith playing the Doctor that hasn’t been said before except this (let me apologize to my nieces now): Matt Smith will probably go down as the best actor to play the Doctor since Tom Baker! Smith is nimble and quick, yet boyishly subtle in the role. IMHO Smith is even better at this point than his predecessor, the wonderful David Tennant.

As a kid, I always thought the BBC’s “Doctor Who” had good stories, even when my friends derided its cheesy special effects. Now that the computer effects have caught up with “Doctor Who”, we are treated with flying fish and rolling fog through Dickensian-style streets in true steampunk fashion. Old and new technology, combined with a new way to tell an old story, has given us something truly remarkable on Christmas day. I fully expect the BBC, Moffat, Smith and the others to keep it that way for 2011!

Previous Doctor Who Entry

Have Yourself A Pretty Vacant Christmas (2010)*

2010-12-01T05:45:00.000-08:00

Mommy Issues -- "Chuck" At Winter Break

2010-11-30T06:10:00.001-08:00

Now that I’m back eating leftovers at my sister’s house, here are some thoughts at the winter hiatus of Season Four…

It is a little depressing for me that NBC’s “Chuck” has ended for the year, since it only leaves the upcoming “Doctor Who” Christmas Special as the only thing left on television that I truly want to watch for the month of December. However, this does give me an opportunity to reflect on what has happened to Chuck (Zac Levi) et al.

Season Four has had moments where it seemed like leftovers were being served, especially when the show gave us characters that appeared in previous seasons (Heather Ratcliffe, Hugo Panzer and the Generalissimo), but it has really taken off now that the focus is back on Chuck’s mom. It may seem a stretch that the main villain this season, Alexei Volkoff, is so in love with Mary Bartowski that he is willing to assault the fully automated CIA base that is the Burbank Buy More, but it is no more of a stretch than a crazy-in-love Sarah tearing up half of Asia to find a kidnapped Chuck.

I do like that the action is less dependent on special effects. Granted, this is due to the decreased budgets “Chuck” has been given this season, but the action has held up with more hand-to-hand combat and fewer explosions. Chuck’s new strip-kick move is fun, but the one character that has really benefited from this subtle change is Yvonne Strahovski's Sarah. She already has had two tremendous fights scenes this season: the catfight on the catwalk (Chuck vs. The Suitcase) and the contest in the kickboxing arena (Chuck vs. Phase Three).

Even when “Chuck” gets incredibly far fetched and silly, it still manages to keep its balance with the action and the comedy in large part because of the acting. Just when I couldn’t hope for another character to switch back and forth from lethal to funny like Adam Baldwin's Casey, we are given Volkoff. Timothy Dalton is so good playing Volkoff, it seems effortless for him to be funny, scary and intense at the same time! (Disclaimer: Dalton does has a special place of honor with me as the only actor to play a part in my two favorite television shows, “Chuck” and the BBC’s “Doctor Who”.)

I have enjoyed the development of most of the regular characters this season, especially Morgan’s. However, the two characters that have surprisingly suffered this season are Jeff and Lester. Maybe it’s a backlash of their overuse last season, but I do hope that the producers can find it in their hearts to give us a Jeffster! performance next year. That would really make my season!

As for my feelings regarding a fifth season, they still haven’t changed. NBC continues to have so many problems this year that it seems unlikely for them to pull a stable, profitable and fan-favorite show like “Chuck” off its schedule, despite the low ratings. I wouldn’t stop buying Subway sandwiches or guarantee syndication yet, but I do feel better about “Chuck” being renewed than I have in years!

My Favorite Episode (so far): Chuck vs. The Couch Lock. I choose this over Chuck vs. Phase Three because paralyzed Casey is still cooler than kick-butt Sarah.

My Favorite Line (so far): “Tonight, I ride in the back!” Honorable mention goes to "Come with me if you want to live", because even when I knew it was coming, it still made me laugh!

Best Greta (this is new): Summer Glau

My Coolest Moment (so far): Morgan helping Casey to overcome a paralysis drug by informing him that he and Casey’s daughter Alex are dating (with highly effective and completely hysterical results)!

Charah Scene (so far): Did I mention that Sarah tore up half of Asia to find her missing Chuck? Awww!

Previous "Chuck" entry

Hola! A Page 23 Do-Over

2010-11-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to admit that a comic book could be delayed because of one page, but that almost happened with Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase simply because it didn't "flow" right! That doesn't mean I didn't like the artwork that my penciller Oscar gave me. I like Oscar's art very much, but sometimes the art clashes with the storytelling.

In my original layouts, Page 22 sets up a gunman intent on assassinating an unsuspecting Barnaby who is driving his car on a coastal highway. The would-be assassin takes careful aim, but before the trigger is pulled he is beaned by a baseball. The hired gun picks up the baseball, reads the inscription (Game Over, Gigi) and with the page turn…

KRAK!

The first panel of Page 23 shows Gigi saving her friend by overpowering the gunman. The delay almost occurred because I felt that the original pencils were underwhelming:

I had two problems. First, the flow is off. A panel on a page should flow directly into the next panel. Normal American comics read top left to bottom right. In the orginal pencilled page the reader has to go top left to middle right. I would have been able to fix that with a word balloon if it weren't for the second snag: the payoff wasn't exciting enough for me! A comic page is like any other artwork. The reader should see the images and read the words in a way to make him or her feel more involved.

I tweaked the page for Comic-Con, but because there are other comic book shows on the horizon, I felt the need to do a “director’s cut” on Page 23. The first thing I did was to reorganize the panels. Then I asked Oscar to redraw panel one, and was surprised to how quickly he agreed after I stated why it should be done. I was even more surprised by how much I like the revision!

When I got the redrawn panel, I did an old-fashioned cut-and-paste job to fit it onto the page. The revised Page 23 puts the reader much closer to the action, and the panels flow much smoother! The great Neal Adams once told me that any breakdown in flow causes a disruption in the page. The key is to understand how the eye works when reading a comic page, and control the eye with your panels!

The extra effort was worth it. Hasta luego!

The Game Is On! – A “Sherlock” Overview

2010-10-24T06:24:00.000-07:00

It only took 123 years, but Sherlock Holmes has finally been brought up to date! “Sherlock” has its American debut tonight on various PBS stations throughout the country. When it was originally shown in England on BBC1 this past summer, “Sherlock” was a big hit and was immediately granted a second series for 2011!

“Sherlock” is a contemporary take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s mystery stories, starring the incredibly brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch as the self-proscribed consulting detective. Martin Freeman is equally impressive as the Afghanistan war hero/action junkie Doctor John Watson. “Doctor Who” writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss created the concept for the BBC/PBS co-production.

What makes “Sherlock” special is how it combines today’s entertainment needs with the essence of Conan Doyle’s stories. It doesn’t go overboard with the action like the big budget Warner Brothers’ movie of 2009, nor does it focus squarely on the fog and attire of the Victorian Era like so many Sherlock Holmes movies of the past.

Cumberbatch’s Sherlock may be highly adept at using mobile phones and has swapped out his pipe for nicotine patches, but he still has the lightning fast leaps of logic that has made Holmes so endearing to mystery fans. Freeman’s Watson may have ditched the bowler hat for a Heckler & Koch and now posts Sherlock’s adventures on a blog, but he is still the best friend a genius can have.

As expected from writers of “Doctor Who”, “Sherlock” crackles with witty dialogue and smart characterization. 221b Baker Street, Lestrade, Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson and Moriarty are all back, but now there is a running joke about people believing Sherlock and John are gay as well as all the actual running that is done in every episode. IMHO the best part of the first episode has to do with the duo outrunning a London taxi cab simply due to Sherlock’s superior knowledge of the city! If that’s not enough, there is always the wonderful theme music that opens each episode.

Moffat does a stunning job adapting Conan Doyle’s first Holmes tale, A Study In Scarlet, into the show’s first episode, A Study In Pink. Who can solve serial suicides of four different people with the same MO and no apparent clues as to why they are actually murders? Sherlock of course, since we regular people just lower the IQ of the entire street!

Defying Cancellation: A Breakdown Of "Chuck" Season 4

2010-10-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Now that I’m back celebrating NBC’s order of 11 additional episodes of “Chuck” (wow!), here are some thoughts on Season 4 so far…

It just seems ridiculous for me to keep saying this could be it for NBC’s “Chuck”, because the show about a computer geek becoming the USA’s most important intelligence asset just keeps being picked up! This season's added order now brings the episode count to 78, with just another full season to reach the magic number for syndication: 100! Will “Chuck” get a season five? I say it’s now even odds.

Season Four started off with a bang, as the search for Chuck’s mom has taken the gang all over the world. The old gang is back, some as cool (Casey, Sarah) and others as goofy (Jeff, Lester) as ever! The big changes in characterization seem to be with Chuck (balancing his geekiness and competence) and Morgan (balancing his bravery and stupidity to save the day).

The new characters are just as fun! I have liked the rotating “Greta” operatives so far and wait with giddy anticipation for Summer Glau’s turn as the CIA Buy More contact. Linda Hamilton as Mary Bartowski is scary good, being motherly one second and deadly the next. Yet my favorite new character this season has to be Casey’s daughter, Alex. She’s just the cool girl-next-door type who happens to have an NSA assassin as a dad!

The old characters have grown as well. Having learned their lesson last year, the producer’s have given us plenty of Charah moments. While sometimes it may seem like overkill, I do like how Chuck and Sarah’s relationship has evolved from asset/bodyguard to a more 50/50 partnership. Morgan is no longer the annoying tag-along friend but the new manager of the Buy More. Best of all, my fears for Casey have been alleviated with Chuck Vs. The Couch Lock, easily the preeminent Casey-centric episode of “Chuck”!

The original storyline with Chuck’s mom and Volkov Industries was to be 13 episodes. Who knows what the writers will follow up with the other 11? NBC is betting we will want to find out. They have my money!

I almost forgot to mention Awesome and Ellie’s baby-to-be. I’m glad I remembered. I hope they nickname her Awesomilia!

My Favorite Episode (so far): Chuck Vs. The Couch Lock, because even when he's totally paralyzed, Colonel Casey is still the man!

My Favorite Line (so far): “Put some clothes on!”

My Coolest Moment (so far): Morgan helping Casey overcome a paralysis drug by informing the good Colonel that he and Alex are dating (with highly effective and completely hysterical results)! Honorable Mention goes to the catfight on the catwalk between Sarah and model-by-day, weapons-dealer-by-night Sofia.

Charah Scene (so far): Chuck pretending to be asleep while Sarah admits to herself she would probably say yes if he proposed. Awww!

The Beckham Rule, Comic-Con and The Babe Factor

2010-10-07T21:08:00.000-07:00

This originally was going to be

two separate blog posts, but I decided to make it one since I realized that I basically argue the same position for both. Even though Major League Soccer and Comic-Con have little in common, it’s extraordinary to me that they have the same cause and effect.

Feeling that its then 14-team American soccer league needed broader appeal, MLS enacted the designated player rule (nicknamed the Beckham rule) in 2007. And as good fortune would have it, David Beckham was in fact the first player to be signed under this rule with the Los Angeles Galaxy in a head-turning $250 million compensation package deal!

Having the world’s most famous footballer playing in LA did wonders for the Galaxy and MLS! Attendance and profits are up, awareness is global and international soccer stars worldwide such as Sweden’s Freddy Ljungberg, Mexico’s Rafa Marquez and France’s Thierry Henry now play in MLS.

There have been detractors to the Beckham rule. American soccer purists worry that MLS might be spending its way to extinction, like the old NASL before it. European fans complain the Galaxy style of play is still subpar to the best teams in the English Premier League or Spain’s La Liga. Worst of all, certain die-hard Galaxy fans point out that Beckham isn’t even the best player on the team and resent Beckham’s part-time status!

While the Galaxy and other teams pay handsomely for its designated players, MLS does have a cap on player salaries, minimizing expenses while maximizing revenue. Yes, American soccer does lack in skills and tactics, but as England, Slovenia and Algeria all saw in this year’s World Cup, no country’s athletes are in better shape than America’s. I do agree that American world-class midfielder Landon Donovan is the Galaxy’s best player, but I would argue that Beckham is more important. And ultimately, nothing is more important to Galaxy fans than the ability to score more goals than the opposing team, even if a goal came from Beckham earlier this month. A gorgeous goal it was too:

I would also like to point out (for lack of a better term) the Galaxy’s “Babe Factor”. The Galaxy are not only the most popular team in MLS, they have a sizeable female following as well. This has made the team sexy: overtly (with Beckham's large female following) and subtlely (with the Galaxy's style of play). This perceived "sexiness" has even been picked up on by England, making a Galaxy match an event for Brit Week, LA’s celebration of all things British, including English celebrities like Karen Gillan (Doctor Who’s Amy Pond):

Despite the problems with the Beckham rule, its benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Designated players have given MLS an international presence and improved play. Can it keep finding splashy international players while developing good home-grown players in this country? Balance is the key. It’s a fine line, but MLS continues to balance its needs to have a pleasing brand of soccer with its product on the field!

************************************************************************************
After the success of the “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” panel during Comic-Con 1998, Hollywood has tapped into the gold mine of fandom. Over ten years later, Hollywood is the massive presence at the largest convention in America.

Hollywood has given Comic-Con a huge shot in the arm. Comic-Con now garners world-wide attention and the show has sold out for the past four years. Even people who don’t care about comic books are keenly aware of Comic-Con. 130,000 people now come yearly to see film previews, television show panels, artists at work, collectible merchants and the occasional comic book studio or dealer.

There has been criticism of Comic-Con over the years: Too much attention is given to Hollywood. San Diego is too small a venue for the country’s largest convention. Worst of all, long time conventioneers complain the Comic-Con isn’t really about comic books anymore!

While San Diego is not a large or distinguished city in the USA, San Diego works in Comic-Con’s favor. For one, it is not Los Angeles, Anaheim or Las Vegas. San Diego has a sleepy charm all its own. Don’t reward Hollywood for usurping Comic-Con by moving it closer to Hollywood! It can get crowded at Comic-Con, but the limited space at the San Diego Convention Center keeps Comic-Con from overloading the show with too many film and television exhibitors. I do agree that Comic-Con really isn’t about comic books anymore, but I would argue that if you have a good comic book to sell (like my own Pretty Vacant), you will still do well at the show!

I would like to point out (for lack of a better term) Comic-Con’s “Babe Factor”. Thanks to Hollywood, Comic-Con shed its reputation as a nerdy guy show a long time ago and now has a sizeable female following. It doesn't matter if the increase is due to comics, anime or films, women are attending. Comic-Con is a place that truly has something for everyone. The trick is to tap into all resources available with your product. Pretty Vacant definitely has eye candy for the guys, but I am glad women have gotten behind the main character Gigi. Finally, it’s a wonderful con when a lady fan will cosplay (like my con-pal Liz), buy your book and insist you put your arm around her when both of you take a picture!

Despite all the problems that are associated with Comic-Con, the benefits still outweigh the drawbacks. Comic-Con still treats comic professionals well while trying to cater to Hollywood’s whims. Even Comic-Con purists realize that change is necessary. Balance is the key. Hopefully it can maintain a good balance between the core comic book base and the Hollywood glitz!

Previous LA Galaxy Entry
Previous Doctor Who Entry
Previous Comic-Con Entry
Previous Pretty Vacant Entry

“Chuck” x4

2010-09-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Every year I pick three shows to watch every episode for the season through thick and thin. I have one simple standard: at least one show has to be new each year. With the new season of television upon us, I have yet to pick out that one new show. It is only one new show because there is nothing out there that can supplant the two shows I’ve been faithfully watching over the past three seasons: the BBC’s “Doctor Who” and NBC’s “Chuck”.

“Chuck” starts a new season this Monday with Chuck vs. The Anniversary after being on hiatus for only four months. This season begins exactly where I want it: Chuck and Sarah are finally together, Morgan is involved in spyworld and that nasty Shaw business has been resolved. And with Chuck on the search for his mother, there is a direction last season didn’t originally have.

No other American TV show captures action, humor and romance better than Chuck, and it’s a rare show that gets better with each passing season. That’s a sign of good writing, but also a sign that there’s a strong lynchpin character that holds it all together. As good as all the actors are on “Chuck”, no one impresses me more than Adam Baldwin’s Casey! Chuck and Morgan can be funny without being lethal and Sarah can be lethal without being funny; however, Casey had to be both for the show to originally work! Casey’s NSA assassin is a brutal killer with a soft spot for the other characters. Since Chuck is becoming more and more competent as a spy, he can now be the lynchpin character, but I hope the producers can keep Casey in that role for the upcoming season.

With the ratings it has received over the past three years, I didn’t think that “Chuck” would last this long. I’m grateful for the episodes we’ve had, and look forward to Season Four. I can only hope more people than last year feel the same way I do about the show and watch it!

Author Notes For Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase

2010-09-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Every issue I have ever written seems to have a unique problem all its own. My first Pretty Vacant story had to adapt a 90 minute movie script into a 24 page comic book format. I knew that I could write Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase from scratch, but the problem I had was not the format, but the plot. What type of situation would make possible the re-plastination of Gigi Gutierrez? After all, it’s not something she would ever want to happen to her again.

Having made her way out of the plastination trap in the first issue, Gigi promised she would return to free her friend Mindy from her cryo-tank. However, Gigi was lucky as two outside events enabled her to overcome the hypnotic sedative injected into her system and avoid the cryo chamber. I felt that Gigi’s escape would make her over-confident in her rescue attempt of Mindy, and that would give Still Life the means to re-plasticize the alluring ex-athlete.

Fortunately for me, sales for Pretty Vacant have been good, giving me the opportunity to write at least two more issues. I was not going to struggle with the means to plasticize Gigi again, so I wrote it into the last two pages of this issue. I imagine there will be other problems that will crop up as I write the next issue, but Gigi being plastinated will not be one of them.

Thanks for the sales and the support! I hope to see all of you soon, or at least when the next issue, Pretty Vacant: Final Repose is published.

John Villaino

Something Blue: “Doctor Who” Series 5 Overview

2010-08-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

Sorry to break it to American fans of “Doctor Who”, but at least five minutes are edited with every episode aired in the USA to accommodate cable schedules and commercials, which is why I always prefer to watch the original English broadcasts over showings this side of the pond. I would have liked to have seen the complete, unedited 2010 series finale of “Doctor Who” at Comic-Con last month, but time ironically escaped me. Yet considering that the Doctor is a Time Lord winning over TV viewers worldwide since it’s debut on the BBC in 1963, I didn’t mind too much waiting a month to watch it.

Because it was definitely worth the wait.

There were many question marks hanging over the show when the highly popular David Tennant left the role of the good Doctor. There was to be a new actor (Matt Smith) in the lead with another new actor (Karen Gillan) as his latest companion, Amy Pond. What didn’t worry me was entrusting “Doctor Who” to a new showrunner, Steven Moffat. As Moffat wrote my favorite Tennant-era episodes (Girl In The Fireplace, Blink and Silence In The Library/Forest Of The Dead), I had faith that new series was going to be a wild ride!

A wild ride it was, as this year’s 13-episode series dealt with the issue of faith. After meeting the Doctor when she was seven, Amy had faith that he would come back for her. Which he did – fourteen years later, after saving Earth (again) and the night before her wedding. As adventures drifted through the ages (past, present and future) with enemies (Daleks, Weeping Angels and Silurians) and friends (Liz 10th, Winston Churchill and River Song), everything in this series led up to the Pandorica and the end of all existence! Not even that could stop the Doctor, sacrificing himself to save time and space, because he had faith that Amy could bring him back. Which she did – on the day of her wedding, in front of the parents, family, guests and husband Rory (the most loyal man in all time and space)!

Kudos to Moffat for crafting such an inspired series! All the stories stand alone, yet are all subtlety connected. Smith was brilliant as the Doctor: quiet, quirky, subdued, and nothing like the bombastic way Tennant treated the role. Smith even looks cool in a bowtie! Some may think Gillan's Amy is too sexy for a family show, but she's feisty, outrageous, very kissable and definitely a two-man woman!

What also made this year’s series special for me was that for the first time since the 2005 revival of the show, Moffat did not write my favorite story of the series. That honor goes to Richard Curtis, who wrote the poignant Vincent And The Doctor, where the Doctor and Amy meet Vincent Van Gogh. If you prefer slapstick funny, there’s Gareth Roberts’ The Lodger, a witty tale with the last of the Time Lords trying to live as a normal human being.

Yes, the end of Series 5 left a few nagging questions (What is the Silence? How did the Tardis blow up? What is River Song’s relationship with the Doctor?), everything is in a good place. Time and space are secure (for now), the Doctor still exists, Rory got the girl and Amy got her men. And the 2010 Christmas Special promises to be another Tardis-sized load of fun, with an escaped Egyptian goddess on the Orient Express… in space!

I can wait.

Previous Dr. Who Entry

A New Way Of Looking At It

2010-08-15T07:34:00.001-07:00

Comic books are not immune to fads. Just like movies, television and books, comics can have that “been there, done that” feel. Comics have had two distinct phases over the last 20 years. There was a dark and gritty phase, typified by Watchmen and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which gave way to a conspiracy phase and notable books such as The Invisibles and Y: The Last Man.

Now I sense a new phase in comics, one where everything is made over new. Marvel has its Heroic Age and DC has Brightest Day. My two current favorite comic books (other than Pretty Vacant) have a makeover feel as well: DC’s Batman and Robin (with the original Robin, Dick Grayson, as the current Dark Knight) and Dark Horse’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight (a full television season in a comic book format).

My previous comic book series before Pretty Vacant was The New G.A.R.D.E., a superhero comic which could be summed up as “Yesterday’s heroes showing today’s world what it truly takes to be a hero.” It was my best selling series, but I ended the comic on issue four as I felt I had nothing more to say.

Thankfully my next project came quickly. When I originally pitched Pretty Vacant, I was told how the concept was very original. I will admit that I don’t see many mad-scientist-corporation-plastinates-exceptional-woman-for-making-mannequins stories out there. Yet what makes PV original is how I combined the damsel-in-distress thriller with an old fashioned horror movie and held it together with help from eurospy flicks. Using different genres in different ways gave me my “original” concept.

Take current and future movies based on Marvel Comics characters. "Iron Man" has science fiction, "Thor" will have mythic fantasy and "Captain America" will be a war movie. All three superhero movies cross into different genres! As with "Iron Man", there is hope that the other two movies will make the familiar seem new.

Change is constant. Comics have changed, with even my beloved Comic-Con no longer really about comic books anymore. For better or worse, change is there. We can moan about it or keep going. With that in mind, I will write my next Pretty Vacant story!

E-7: Keeping Comics Alive At Comic-Con!

2010-07-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

Comic-Con 2010 is in the books and I’m happy that it’s over. Before every Comic-Con I always go down to San Diego wide-eyed and hopeful and afterwards I leave San Diego bleary-eyed and battered. I even left the Con one hour early on the last day! I didn’t want to be traveling on a post-convention train with the fans who attended all four days without changing clothes… I would rather watch my beloved LA Dodgers give up four runs in the ninth to lose to the Yankees!

Once again I was with the good people in the Bare Bones Studios
booth at E-7. Mike (the bunny-eared leader) was there, as was Killer Robot Rob and Carnival Barker Carlos. However, Sandra wasn’t in our booth this year. Mike explained that she was in the booth behind us. “Maybe she thinks she can make money this year,” I said in jest.

The fourth person sharing the booth this year was Lin. Her cool, inexpensive Wicked Apple jewelry was on display, but since she also had her own booth at the art auction area, I didn’t see her until the fourth day of the Con. I was glad to finally meet her, as she was very nice and paid her sales tax!

Lin had her jewelry, Mike and Rob had their latest copy of Pocket Book Heroes and I had Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase. All we needed was the item that got people to our booth. And as usual, Mike supplied that item for the booth: stickmen!
Mike brought 8,000 stickmen on Preview Night and we started giving them away for free the entire show! I don’t mind drawing faces on Styrofoam too much because doing so gives me time to actually talk to a rapt audience about my book. I drew specific faces on the stickmen when requested, and there were a lot of requests: happy, sad, angry, constipated, vampire, zombie, Jedi, even Bob Marley! My favorite request came from Stasia, who was in the booth next to me. She wanted the expression of “someone who just realized she was brushing her teeth with neosporin!” Apparently this came from personal experience.

The stickmen were so popular that io9.com called them the Best Homemade Free Swag at this year’s Con! They could have told us in person. Mike said he found out from a midget dressed as the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man! I hope it was a midget – I’d hate to think that a kid could get that out of shape so early in life!

Usually film crews and press people interview Mike, Rob or Carlos. I always join in with the wacky shtick, but they seem to turn the wackiness up a notch whenever a camera is nearby. Yet one time I was drawing a happy face on a stickman for a lady when she thrust a microphone in my face. I saw her press badge and I realized she wanted to interview me. We talked about the origin of Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase (an optioned movie script turned into a comic) and the story itself: How The Still Life Corporation plans to transform Gigi Gutierrez into an unmoving, unthinking body mold for their mannequin line and how Gigi struggles to escape her plasticized fate. The lady thought that I was too intelligent and articulate to be with the others and asked why I with Bare Bones. I simply told her that I want to “keep comics alive for Comic-Con.”

Comics don’t distinguish whether they are art or trash. They are judged by the fun factor: Is it fun to read? Even the “worst comic book ever,” Rob’s Shadow Prophecy is a fun comic if you spend your time poking holes in it. My companions at E-7 couldn’t be any more different from me, but we like each other, balance out each other and we have a lot of fun! Someday the Comic-Con Board might realize balancing con-specific films and television (what are “Dexter”, “Community” and “Hawaii-5-0” doing at Comic-Con anyway?) with comics and gamers will lead to a better show rather than emphasizing Hollywood at all times.

Despite the long lines, sore feet, overreaching tax men and overzealous security, I had a lot of fun at Comic-Con! I dispensed wisdom (“sum up your idea in one sentence when pitching your story”), got the free swag item I wanted (a “Chuck” promo bag), and sold enough copies of Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase to pay for the print run and my share of the table!

Yet the most fun I had was with my friends, be it old friends (Bare Bones gang, Sandra, Dustin, Hye Jung, Erwin, Phillip) or new friends (Kevin and Stasia). I still managed to talk with my friend Rachel even though she was running the G4 booth this year, and I had lunch twice with my best friend at Comic-Con, Rodney. Rodney taunted me about my Dodgers imploding against his beloved Yankees and I mocked him for waiting two-and-a-half hours in line and still failing to get into the Green Lantern presentation!

I also got to take a cool picture with my friend Elizabeth, who cosplayed this year as Red Sonja! Thanks Rob for the photo (I have to write that or he’ll go Killer Robot on me)!

Dance, Killer Robot, Dance!

And I do hope the lady who had nicest smile at Comic-Con comes back to sell her comic book in 2011!

"Chuck" Comic-Con Panel: Fan-less Fun!

2010-07-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

My niece and I were in line since 8:30 this morning working our way into the dreaded Ballroom 20 for the 10 am Chuck Panel at Comic-Con when Erica, a friend of a friend at the show, called in a panic. I had met her the previous day and told her that she could get inside with us if she couldn’t get in herself. She told me she would call only if it was absolutely necessary. First time conventioneers are always so naive…

“I don’t think security will let me through!”

“Relax. Just tell them that your husband and daughter are saving a place for you near the head of the line,” I replied.

“That’ll never work… hold on… okay, I’m through! Where are you?”

Erica met up with my niece and I and we got into Ballroom 20 at… 10:03! Luckily, the good people at Chuck waited an additional five minutes to let inside as many people as possible!

All the previous Chuck Panels at Comic-Con were a lot of fun, and this year’s panel was no different! It started off with a video presentation of Season 3’s highlights (with the biggest cheer for the scene where Chuck and Sarah finally got together), but it soon veered off in a strange direction! When Season 3.1 ended, Chuck was going to start a quest to find his mom. The screen then revealed who was going to play Mary Bartowski for Season 4: Linda Hamilton!

After that revelation, the screens were suddenly taken over by The Ring, using it to indoctrinate the audience! Luckily, Chuck and Morgan interrupted The Ring’s video presentation (even though Morgan wanted to be at the Twilight Panel) to break The Ring’s programming with the only “cure” they had available… a Jeffster dance video!

And as the audience roared to the antics of Jeffster dancing to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” on the video screens, Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky (who play Jeff and Lester) slyly made their way onto the floor, soon followed by Zac Levi and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck and Sarah), and finally the rest of the cast, the producers and the moderators.

There were plot developments mentioned (like the Buy More being taken over by the CIA) and guest casting leaked (Olivia Munn of G4 and Isaiah Mustafa the “Old Spice Guy” playing CIA/Buy More Green Shirts codenamed “Greta”). Yet the one thing that really stood out for me was when producer Josh Schwarz was asked if he would things differently during Season 3, especially with the Shaw character. He answered, “We’ve learned some things,” which is the closest we’ll ever get to an actual apology for putting Shaw between Chuck and Sarah.

There were a couple sour notes, as the Chuck Panel ended exactly at 10:45 without a Q&A period for the fans and the fact that nobody who attended the panel could get autographs from the cast at the WB booth as the autograph line was capped before the panel ended. Yet my niece enjoyed the panel anyway, and so did I.

I don’t know what Erica thought of it.

Update: Thanks to the magic of YouTube, and if you’re really interested, here is the Jeffster dance sequence and the cast emerging to the floor! Who has the better chest shake, Vik or Yvonne?

Next Stop, Comic-Con!

2010-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Once again it's that time of year where everything I've worked on in a vacuum is presented to 130,000 of the most critical people one can ever meet. If any of you who read this blog can make it to Comic-Con this year, my booth is E-7. Please say kind things to me!

If for those of you who don't know, today is my birthday! And yes, I'm gonna have a good time!

Acquiesce

2010-06-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

In order to succeed in life, you have to get along with people. Employees need companies, and companies need workers. Sports teams need fans, fans need their teams. And friends need friends. People simply need each other.

In my Pretty Vacant stories, Gigi comes off as super-skilled. Yet if it wasn’t for her friend Diane snooping around and getting caught, Gigi would never have had the time to overcome the hypnotic sedative injected into her bloodstream and avoid the cryogenically frozen fate Still Life had planned for her.

The biggest problem I had with PV: Vegas Showcase is finding a way to get Gigi plasticized once again. Thankfully Gigi’s evolving characterization provided a means to plot it.

Gigi is highly capable, but her abilities have made her overconfident. As Gigi prepares to infiltrate Still Life’s new mannequin warehouse in Vegas and rescue her pal Mindy, Still Life makes new plans to reacquire and replastinate Gigi.

Enter Barnaby Wong. I created his character as a counter balance for Gigi. While Gigi charges forward, Barnaby takes a step back and assesses the situation. It will come in very handy for what Still Life has in store for Gigi! Besides, isn’t it about time that there was a guy on Gigi’s side?

World In Motion 2010

2010-06-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

People who root for the English National Football (Soccer) Team remind me of my passion for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball club. Each team has won just enough to get hopes up (like the 1966 England World Cup or baseball’s 1988 World Series), but most of the time the end result is heartbreak and enduring resolve for the next time!

It’s not that England has a bad side for the 2010 South Africa World Cup, far from it! It’s just that England supporters have unrealistic expectations for their team. The defenders are suspect, the goalie is untested and who can score for the Three Lions outside of world-class striker Wayne Rooney?

Yet three things England has going for it are Rooney, excellent midfielders in Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and strangely enough, songs about the team. One thing I really admire about England fans is their ability to sing. I guess any country that can claim The Beatles as their own can sing whenever they like, but the World Cup gives England another venue to show off their singing prowess!

Take “Bangers and Mash” by Marcus Day featuring Cormack. My favorite England song for the 2010 World Cup showcases everything I like about the country: good soccer, good food, good beer, and good company! The video clip is too large for the blog, but here’s the link:

YouTube link

My all-time favorite England football song is its World Cup anthem for Italy 1990, New Order’s “World In Motion.” As one of the three 1980s music groups I still listen to three decades later (along with Talking Heads and The Go-Go’s), New Order already had the inside track. However, “World In Motion” does an excellent job of mixing high-brow concepts (“Love’s got the world in motion”) with low-brow entertainment (England Midfielder John Barnes rapping halfway through the song).

Speaking of low-brow, it doesn’t get any more lower than Fat Les’ “Vindaloo” for France 1998. If you’re think you’re crazy for rooting for England in the World Cup, this song reminds you that you’re not alone...

And if you’re one for heart-felt sentimentality, Embrace’s “World At Your Feet” for Germany 2006 is perfect! This anthem is uplifting in more ways than one: as you lift up the World Cup trophy, you will also lift up your soul.

England’s first match for 2010 South Africa is against the United States this Saturday. Despite my admiration for England’s team, I will still root for the USA. I will root for the USA until they are eliminated, and then I’ll root for England! Then France, then New Zealand, and then Spain. And if all those countries are eliminated, I will root for any team facing Italy or Brazil. Winning’s no fun if it’s not your team!

Update: Did I say untested English goalie? What a match!

In Case You Thought I'd Forgotten...

2010-05-31T06:54:00.001-07:00

Page Two of my latest book, Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase. Just in time for Comic-Con!

Chuck Me Baby One More Time (2010)!

2010-05-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

I thought it would fun to compare my “Chuck” post from last year with the perspective I now possess after the third season. For those who are interested in such things, here is the original post.

According to NBC’s website, “Chuck” is about a regular guy working at a Buy More electronics store, who becomes the government’s most vital secret agent. The ever stoic Colonel John Casey and partner Sarah Walker (one of the CIA's top agents and Chuck's dream girl) need to protect him but also help him become the agent he is destined to be.

Even after several missteps this year (Chuck-Hanna anyone?), I am still not the harshest critic of the show, and remain willing to wait out the mediocre episodes in order to watch the truly great ones. And yes -- “Chuck” is the most hysterically funny, romantically sweet, hyper violent family show on TV today! I still stick by my family show assertion.

Despite having low viewer ratings for much of the year, NBC has renewed “Chuck” for a fourth season. Despite what people may say, the internet campaign for a fourth season renewal did not sway the network. It was network blunders and core viewers that brought “Chuck” back. NBC has nothing else to offer that can do as well as “Chuck” in the ultra-tough Monday 8 pm slot. Unfortunately, since only more viewers will now ensure a fifth season, I do believe the fourth season will be the last.

And believe it or not, the summer hiatus is now is suitable time to acquaint new people with “Chuck.” Lending your DVDs is a good place to start, and thewb.com, hulu and nbc.com are still streaming episodes. I know the “You’ll like it” response isn’t enough to satisfy your family and friends’ curiosity, but you can still inform them that “Chuck” is a great show and the following are still very good reasons as to why.

1. “Chuck” is fun. It still has a feel good quality. What other show on television that can have a major fight with a tone-deaf cover of Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory” as background music or have stripper/nurse clad character fight machine gun toting guards with nothing but her fists? “Chuck” can be improbable and ridiculous (note the World War II references during "Chuck versus The Beard."), but a lot is forgiven simply because it is funny.

2. Chuck has ingenuity. Chuck Bartowski is no ordinary agent. Chuck (Zachary Levi) comes up with solutions that top agents Casey or Sarah would never dream of having. Who else could stop a bomb with a computer porn virus? Or save the nation by using video conference equipment? To their credit, the writers never used Chuck’s newfound Intersect skills as a crutch to get him out of a predicament.

3. Sarah’s bodyguard crush. Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah) is an actress who’s incredibly good looking -- not the other way around! Her Sarah is still tough, funny and vulnerable, sometimes in the same scene! Strahovski has been completely believable as an agent who can kick major butt and fall in love with the “asset” she is supposed to protect. Now that Chuck and Sarah are an item, the storylines have actually opened up the show in new directions! (Yes, her pic is large, but a thumbnail doesn’t do it justice.)

4. The music. This show has used songs as diverse as jazz singer/songwriter Nina Simone to indie artists Polyphonic Spree. The music fits well with the action, especially when songs from the 1980s are used. I especially enjoyed David Lee Roth’s “Just Like Paradise” when Morgan hooked up with DEA dreamboat Carina. Maybe it was overkill this past year, but the Jeff and Lester’s band Jeffster provided some hysterical (“Fortunate Son”) and poignant (“Leaving On A Jet Plan”) musical moments.

5. Casey unleashed! Colonel John Casey is a man of few words. Even in the most extreme situation, Casey (Adam Baldwin) does more with a grunt than most characters do with entire sentences! He is quite efficient at everything he does, whether it is assassinating rogue agents or selling a barbeque grill at Buy More. A lot of humor comes out of Casey’s cover as a Buy More employee. And it’s fun to find the Ronald Reagan picture in Casey’s apartment! (Notice I only changed one word with this paragraph from last year!)

6. “Chuck” still gets better. There were some mediocre episodes throughout Season Three, but all the episodes after “Chuck versus The Honeymooners” were fun. The last three episodes built on the previous ones, ramped up the tension and gave us a most satisfying season finale! The characters grew, mysteries were solved, and the stakes got higher -- all culminating with Chuck now on a world-wide quest to find his mom! And I thought Sidney Bristow’s family was interesting.

I know I don’t sound optimistic for a fifth season, but I am grateful for the amount of episodes NBC will give us. NBC has done its part. Advertisers such as Subway have done their part. Soon it will be time for us to do ours and watch “Chuck,” even if Morgan is now a member of Team Bartowski, even if Casey now has a daughter, even if the Buy More lies in ruins! I just wish I got to see Sarah wear a Subway employee uniform.

Chuck 3.18 & 3.19

2010-05-24T22:47:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus The Subway”
“Chuck versus The Ring Part 2”

Now that I’m back celebrating next season’s renewal for “Chuck” (whoo-hoo!), here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

I wasn’t planning to write a post for the season finale of “Chuck”, but it was so good that I felt I should! It was the perfect way to end an imperfect season. All of this season’s storylines were wrapped up nicely while setting up the major storyline when the show comes back in the fall.

Season finales should be big, and “Chuck” didn’t disappoint. Chuck had to save the country from Shaw and The Ring’s covert takeover of the US Intelligence services. What was most impressive was how Chuck did it without using the Intersect (which was still malfunctioning for most of the episode)!

The producers wanted to go out this season in a blaze of glory! It was only fitting that the climatic fight between Chuck and Shaw would take place at the deserted Buy More with fisticuffs, Jeffster’s so-called music video playing on the screens in the background, and Sarah delivering the final blow! The sequence was well-planned and well-executed.

It is also a relief that the writers finally figured out what to do with the Ellie character. Her concern of protecting her younger brother now comes from a sense of family duty rather than being manipulative or controlling (like my mom). A shame it had to come at the expense of Chuck’s father (RIP Stephen Bartowski), but they did leave a way to keep bringing the dad back next season.

It was fun to share my thoughts with everyone. Thanks!

My Favorite Line: “So on behalf of the NSA, the CIA and of course your local Buy More, I just like to say, ‘Thanks a lot!’”

My Coolest Moment: Morgan using his nose to call Casey on his cell while tied up, and then breaking his thumbs to free himself. And the lack of thumb movement causing Morgan to blow up the Buy More!

Charah Scene: When Casey admitted to Sarah that he approved of her relationship with Chuck. “You picked a good one, Walker… finally.”

The Force Is Strong With This One: The Dodgers Strike Back

2010-05-22T07:01:00.001-07:00

Perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers should have a Star Wars Night every night, as last night’s 4-1 victory over a very good Detroit Tigers team has given the Dodgers a 2-0 record whenever they have one! The now first place Dodgers are currently the hottest team in baseball, having won 11 of their last 12 games.

Chad Billingsley pitched a Jedi Master-like seven innings, a gimpy Manny Ramirez drove in a run, and the relief pitching surprisingly held up with Jonathan Broxton striking out the side in the 9th inning for the save.

Attending the game with my friend David (and his two friends, John and Andy), the fun was only marred by the horrific Dodger parking and Dodger security temporarily confiscating John’s light saber. I imagine John could have used the Jedi mind trick on the security guard (“This isn’t the light saber you’re looking for”), but he realizes that using The Force for evil will only lead you to the dark side!

During the game I was reminded that Dodger Stadium is the third oldest stadium in baseball (est. 1962), and “The Empire Strikes Back” was released 30 years ago yesterday. How did I get so old?

Here's the original blog post. Go Blue!

VIC-TO-REE!

2010-05-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

A very good week indeed!

Chuck 3.16

2010-05-10T22:47:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus The Tooth”

Now that I’m back fixing a molar from my dentist, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Considering that the Chuck-I-Am-Your-Father, Shaw and Will-They-Won’t-They storylines have all played out, the writers had to come up with another storyline for ending the season with a bang. They came up with a doozy! With the Intersect wreaking havoc with Chuck’s brain, it set up a scenario where Chuck’s father can return to show to save his son.

It was interesting to see Christopher Lloyd play a dramatic role in this episode. He is such a funny guy (even being in one of my favorite comedic scenes on television), but he’s believable as a CIA shrink worried for Chuck’s sanity. He even has Sarah and Casey’s trust!

The subplot was a bit too much to take, having enjoyed the Anna Wu character during Season’s 1 and 2. There was closure for Anna and Morgan’s relationship, even if budget cuts axed her character. However, Anna finally got to take her turn in the Buy More wind tunnel, something only a select few (Carina, Sarah, Hannah and Morgan!) have been allowed to enter.

After two very humorous episodes, this episode took a much darker turn. Ellie is unknowingly assisting The Ring in finding her and Chuck’s dad. And for all of you out there who are glad Chuck killed Shaw, don’t go celebrating yet!

My Favorite Line: “Monday nights can be bit of a wasteland.”

My Coolest Moment: Sarah imploring Doctor Dreyfus to save Chuck and then realizing that Casey made the same request.

Charah Scene: When Sarah finally says “I love you” to Chuck. It only took three years!

Update: This could be a very good week indeed!

Chuck 3.15

2010-05-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

“Chuck versus The Role Models”

Now that I’m back reporting a missing Bengal tiger with the Zoo, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

When the producers finally decided to let Chuck and Sarah become a couple, some people were concerned that the show would become stale and formulaic. The introduction of CIA super-spy couple Clark and Laura Turner seemed directed right at those concerns.

All four couples -- the Turners, Chuck-Sarah, Awesome-Ellie and Casey-Morgan -- had interesting storylines within the episode. I especially liked how Chuck-Sarah and Casey-Morgan’s stories intersected, with Chuck trying to relieve a tiger of it’s software-laden collar while Morgan trying to relieve Big Mike of his manager’s key card!

There did seem to be a lot of squabbling this time around. Maybe the Turner’s bickering was expected, but it was strange to see Chuck and Sarah arguing, especially on the topic of firearms (in Chuck’s apartment and with the tiger). It was there to give conflict, but it seemed unnecessary considering Sarah’s reluctance to move in with Chuck.

Despite the backbiting, there was much to like with last night’s show. The “Hart To Hart” sequence at the beginning was very well done, Sarah’s newfound humor is unexpectedly welcome, and Morgan’s spy training made me smile. Besides, Awesome’s African nickname (Doctor Super Fantastic White Guy) almost single-handedly made up for any deficiencies this episode had. And I did like the twist at the end, with the refugee camp doctor who seemed to be in competition for Ellie’s affections being a Ring operative at the end. They’re back!

My Favorite Line: YOU DISGUST ME!!!

My Coolest Moment: Morgan taking on the tiger that had Chuck, Casey and Sarah all frightened!

Charah Scene: The Hart-felt homage at the beginning. “And when these two spies met, it was love at first fight.” Awww...

Great Minds Think Alike

2010-05-02T07:07:00.001-07:00

I recently attended the Leonardo da Vinci and the Art of Sculpture exhibit at the Getty. I enjoyed the entire exhibit, but I was most interested in his sketch for the casting of the Sforza Monument:This sketch shows that the original model would be preserved as a mold. Afterwards a full body casting is made from the mold which then can be reused. While Leonardo sketched this for both equestrian and human sculptures, my own Pretty Vacant comic focuses on the human aspect through Still Life’s mannequin process with a plastinated Gigi as the mold:
These drawings give us a sense of what can be accomplished and echo what artists wish to convey. Plus it’s mind-boggling to realize how ideas are passed down over the centuries!

Chuck 3.14

2010-04-26T23:20:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus The Honeymooners”

Now that I’m back buying my comic books from the magazine rack at Gare du Nord in Paris, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Most of you have told me that shows get ruined after the main characters get together. I disagree for two reasons. 1) Shows can go on in new directions after the main characters hook up (i.e. “I Dream Of Jeannie” and “Cheers”), and 2) Most of you still don’t leave your comments on my blog (but I’m not bitter)!

I for one am extremely happy that Chuck and Sarah finally are an official couple! After looking dour for most of the season, Sarah is finally happy (and showing off those teeth)! Now that Chuck and Sarah are happy with each other and with being spies, their chemistry manifests itself in the climatic fight scene in a European café. Charah kicks serious spy tail while handcuffed together and grabbing each other in very effective – and increasingly provocative – ways!

Speaking of spy teams, Casey and Morgan teaming up is hard not to love. I wholeheartedly agree with the producers to make Chuck more skilled as a spy, because Morgan gives a new component to nerdily effective. I admit I laughed when Casey brought back the use-the-nerd-as-a-projectile-weapon-while-tied-back-to-back-to-him trick (Chuck 1.12)! It will be fun to see how Casey restrains himself from killing Morgan in the future.

It’s hard to see Awesome and Ellie leave for Africa, but Jeffster unplugged was worth it for me. As a big fan of the music on “Chuck”, having Jeffster’s acoustic rendition of “Leaving On A Jet Plane” between Vampire Weekend, Polyphonic Spree and Nina Simone is impressive even by this show’s high musical standards!

My new favorite show of the season, or should I say my favorite show of Season 3.2? This show felt like a season premiere, redefining the show’s premise. How does a loving spy couple cope with their work and personal lives? At any rate, this show deserves a second pic! Ladies and gentlemen, the randiest couple in the CIA: Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker!
My Favorite Line: “He is going to need a walker when Walker's through with him?”

My Coolest Moment: Sarah and Chuck defeating the bad guys while handcuffed to each other. It doesn’t get any cooler than that.

Charah Scene: “Off the record, it’s about damn time!” General Beckman says it, and so say we all. Awww...

Let’s Have Fun Again: “Chuck” Breakdown #2

2010-04-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Now that I’m back from filing my tax returns with the IRS for the year, let’s break down Season 3.1 of “Chuck”…

It was right after NBC ordered six additional episodes that the producers decided to have two main story arcs, effectively splitting Season 3. The first 13 episodes comprised the first arc, while the second arc (Season 3.2) consists of the last six. The end of Season 3’s Arc 1 could have been handled better, but it left “Chuck” in a good place: Shaw’s story wrapped up, Morgan became a member of Team Bartowski, Casey found out he has a daughter and Chuck and Sarah are now a couple!

I am relieved that the Shaw storyline finally played out. Not because of the actor’s ability to play the character, but because Shaw made the trio of Chuck, Sarah and Casey much too serious. Maybe Shaw didn’t have enough time to fully develop before he defected to The Ring, but “Chuck” is supposed to be a fun show, and it was always difficult to have fun when Shaw was onscreen.

One thing I like is that “Chuck” continues to grow. Now that Chuck has become somewhat competent as a spy, it only seems natural that Morgan fills the goofy component in the show’s spy missions. The spy team of Casey and Morgan promises to be extremely watchable! And as far as couples go, I can easily see Chuck and Sarah becoming the next Steed and Mrs. Peel or Jonathan and Jennifer Hart!

Can “Chuck” still be fun? Even at its worse, “Chuck” is entertaining. However, I’m hoping that the show can still be something unique on television, a show with cool characters that does action, comedy and romance equally well! I’m looking forward to watching Chuck and Sarah navigate their spy and real relationships, Casey and Morgan learning to co-exist in Spy-world, another Subway tie-in, the return of Anna Wu and Stephen Bartowski, and more Jeffster songs. I would like to see Jeffster tackle a ballad!

And on a personal note, could we have Sarah taking on bad guys in her underwear one more time?
My Favorite Episodes -- I had to pick two (So Far): “Chuck vs. The Beard”, and please don’t hate me for adding “Chuck vs. The Other Guy”

My Coolest Moment (So Far): Morgan finding out that Chuck was a spy.

My Favorite Fight Scene (So Far): Sarah in that nurse’s outfit. I would have picked Casey taking on the entire Parisian branch of The Ring by himself if they actually filmed it!

Charah Scene (So Far): Sarah telling Chuck she fell for him during the very first episode three years ago. “When you first fixed my phone and before you defused bombs with computer viruses.”

Here's The Pitch... And There It Goes (Paper Anniversary)!

2010-04-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

“Pretty Vacant is about how mad scientists make money to fund their evil experiments.”

On the one year anniversary of this blog, I’m amazed that I’ve gotten so much mileage out of that simple sentence! The first Pretty Vacant comic was published last year, and now I have two more high-tech damsel-in-distress stories ready to go for this year’s comic convention season. Considering I believed at the time that PV would be a one-shot comic book, I’m happy that people want more!

I hope the next phase is not boring. How many times can Gigi escape after being plastinated anyway?
Note: If you’re interested, here is the original blog post a year ago today.

How Wrong Can I Be?

2010-04-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's time for yet another season of Major League Baseball! I'm always asked at the beginning of each season as to who will win the World Series, and every year I pick the same team. I haven't been right for 21 years!

Well, I'm going on record today and say that the Los Angeles Dodgers will somehow overcome injuries, no middle relief and the most expensive divorce in California's history to take the World Series this year! And if the Black Eyed Peas "Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night" takes over for "It's A Beautiful Day For A Ballgame" at the start of every game this year at Dodger Stadium, that would also be cool.

Chuck 3.13

2010-04-05T22:28:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus The Other Guy”

Now that I’m back enjoying Steak Tartare and a Pinot Noir from a café off the banks of the Seine, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

If you’re as obsessed about “Chuck” as I can sometimes be, you would know that this episiode was supposed to be the original season finale. For better or worse, it certainly felt like one. This episode felt rushed and reeked of budget cuts, which is bad, but it tied up loose ends and set up a new future for all the major characters, which is definitely good!

I did enjoy how the writers wrapped up the Charah relationship, choosing a quiet moment in the middle of the episode rather than the action-laden end. Instead of Sarah declaring her love for Chuck after he saved her in Paris, she did so in a calm manner in Chuck’s Burbank apartment, completely free of action movie clichés.

The comedy bits were funny as well. We all knew that Jeffster, Casey and Morgan would have their lines, but who knew that General Beckman had a sense of humor? Her hair in rollers and her use of the Clapper were priceless! And Morgan, horror of horrors, is now an official member of Team Bartowski!

Too bad the action scenes were limited. When Chuck faced off with Shaw at the episode’s climax, Casey took on the entire Parisian branch of The Ring solo -- off-screen! Perhaps with the appearance fees for the actor who played Shaw no longer an issue, the producers can put more money into the last six episode's action sequences!

Not a perfect episode by any measure, but for what it had to do as a turning point for the show, it was perfect enough!

My Favorite Line: “No -- we don’t do pranks!” so saith General Beckman!

My Coolest Moment: Casey defeated the entire Parisian branch of The Ring off by himself off-screen. How cool is that?

Charah Scene: “You’re still Chuck. You’re still my Chuck!” Sarah said as she admitted falling for Chuck during the very first episode three years ago. Awww...

Chuck 3.12

2010-03-29T21:39:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus The American Hero”

Now that I’m back purchasing a can of Dr. Jibb from the soda machine on 2nd and Alvarado, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Originally renewed for only 13 episodes, “Chuck” crammed as much story into Season 3 as it did in Season 2. The problem is that Season 2 had 22 episodes for the Chuck-wants-the-Intersect-out-of-his-head storyline. With fewer episodes and a reduced budget, Season 3’s Will-Chuck-and-Sarah-get-together storyline seemed choppy and rushed. Yet it’s all worthwhile because Sarah has made her choice as to whom she wants to be with, and it’s Chuck!

The best “Chuck” episodes balance the comedy and the action equally, and this one is no different. I liked how Morgan, Awesome and Casey teamed up to assist Chuck in winning Sarah’s heart, and I laughed when each individual in this alternate universe version of Team Bartowski gave their reasons for helping. In contrast, the action sequence with Chuck rescuing a captured Shaw before an airstrike destroyed the Ring Headquarters was well done, despite a reduced budget for extras and effects!

However, one more thing remains before Chuck and Sarah can finally be together, and it’s Shaw. The Ring revealed to Shaw that Sarah was the one who assassinated his wife, and now Shaw has some unfinished business to conclude, thus setting up the big fight between Chuck and Shaw! The character of Shaw was problematic all season, not because of his relationship with Sarah, but because it prevented the original dynamic between Team Bartowski (Chuck, Sarah and Casey) from happening much of this season. I for one am looking forward to its resolution!

One last thing: With all the fans who want Chuck and Sarah together, who knew that the biggest fan would be John Casey?

My Favorite Line: As much as I liked Ellie’s (“You’re a Bartowski, Chuck, start acting like one”) and Jeff’s (“And this is my blue period”) lines, I’m actually going to go with Shaw telling Awesome, “Next time, tackle the guy with the gun.”

My Coolest Moment: Sarah contacting Casey in the Buy More via Morse Code.

Charah Scene: Chuck telling Sarah he loved her – twice, because it felt really nice to say. Aww…

Now What?

2010-03-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Pretty Vacant is a complete story. It was originally written as a one-time movie screenplay, which was then adapted into a 24 page comic book script. There wasn’t a screenplay-to-comic-book problem with my second story, but I had to think in terms of a movie sequel.

Writing a sequel is easy because the characters have already been established, but writing a sequel is hard because there are preconceived notions already placed on the characters from the first story. And just like in everyday life, I followed certain rules when writing Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase.

Re-establishing the characters was the highest priority. Gigi, Diane, Mindy and Hans each has a so-that’s-what-he/she-is-doing moment when they are reintroduced. Although in Mindy’s case, she isn’t exactly doing anything when she first appears in the sequel.

Not liking sequels that just rehash the original story, I wanted to make it new. Most of the second adventure is set in a new locale (Las Vegas). New machinery abounds (I especially like the full body image scanner), and two characters -- Barnaby and Irina -- debut in PV: Vegas Showcase.

One of the hardest things to do is to keep it simple. I always try to sum up my stories in a single sentence. It’s no different with a sequel. PV: Vegas Showcase has mad scientists trying to make money to fund their evil experiments after suffering the destruction of their original laboratory.

And I had to plan it out. I’ve stretched out the Pretty Vacant concept for a third story (if I’m lucky enough to do it), much like a so-called movie trilogy. Yet PV: Vegas Showcase is a complete story on its own, not just a Part 2 that will be completed with a third issue.

Sequels let us go deeper into the stories of our favorite characters and discover new things that make us go wow. But there is a fine line in the sequel world and when it is crossed everything comes crashing down. Finding the balance between in two is part of the fun!

Chuck 3.11

2010-03-22T21:02:00.001-07:00

“Chuck versus the Final Exam”

Now that I’m back retrieving my towel from the balcony, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Talk about no-win situations! If Chuck doesn’t assassinate a CIA mole passing secrets to the Ring, he can no longer remain a spy. Yet if Chuck does assassinate the mole, he will lose Sarah (as he would no longer be the kind-hearted guy she loves)! Long gone are the days when Chuck was so important he had to have two bodyguards to protect him. The writers are smart to keep continuity when they can, but to ignore continuity when the story doesn’t warrant it.

The Buy More sub-plot had Big Mike helping Casey control his anger against Jeff and Lester (and Subway’s newest sandwich, the “Toonaroni”), but it was a relief to see that Casey wasn’t completely relegated to the secondary story. Just because Casey is now a civilian doesn’t mean he can’t look after Chuck. This isn’t a case of Casey breaking character. The former Colonel has gone out of his way a number of times (Chuck 1.13, 2.01, 2.18, and 2.21) to cover Bartowski’s back.

With Chuck and Sarah even farther apart than ever before at the end of this episode, it seems that the storyline has gotten darker. Yet Season 3 of “Chuck” was originally supposed to consist of 13 episodes, so the writers still have at least two episodes left to sort out their relationship and bring Team Bartowski back together. I have faith they can!

My Favorite Line: “I’m a naked spy!”

My Coolest Moment: Casey taking the kill shot that Chuck would never take.

Charah Scene: Chuck and Sarah on the most romantic stakeout ever, with sizzling shrimp and the music of Hall and Oats. Aww...

Chuck 3.10

2010-03-15T22:57:00.000-07:00

“Chuck versus The Tic Tac”

Now that I’m back from buying breath mints at the corner store, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Colonel John Casey has always been the most dependable character on “Chuck”. So maybe it was inevitable that there would be a serious weak spot in his patriotic make-up. It isn’t so hard to believe that Casey was once Lt. Alex Coburn, who left behind a pregnant fiancé to join a special black-ops team (that eventually sided with the Ring) by faking his own death. The show has given us clear back stories connecting us more closely to the characters. This connection also illustrated Chuck and Sarah’s deep bond with Casey as they defied CIA orders to help him.

Despite the dark overtones in this episode, it did have the trademarked humor! With Casey forced to team up with his former CO (now Ring agent) Keller, other characters had to pick up the comedy relief slack. The Awesome-Morgan running dialogue about Chuck was amusing, as was Chuck’s face plant against an invisible barrier in a CIA-secured building. However, the funniest moment unexpectedly came from Sarah, who took the access card to Casey’s prison cell from Head of Security Stanley Fitzroy and then casually bopped him once in the face!

And without Shaw to take away any screen time, the three original members of Team Bartowski each had a memorable fight scene: Chuck saving Casey’s ex-fiancé Kathleen against five members of the Ring, Sarah protecting Casey’s back against another five members of the Ring, and Casey going one-on-one with Keller. Casey killed his former commander by snapping his neck with one hand, but Chuck was able to refrain from killing a Ring agent in the same manner (with a little support from Sarah). Maybe Chuck can still be the guy Sarah fell for three years ago!

However, rescuing Kathleen has its price as Casey is no longer a Colonel and no longer a member of the team. Yet if Season 2 was any indication, Team Bartowski will split up only to come back together again before the end of this season. Or at least until episode 13!

My Favorite Line: “I was hoping you’d say that.”

My Coolest Moment: Sarah knowing how many Ring agents she was up against by counting the matches left behind by Casey.

Charah Scene: Even now-civilian Casey admits that Chuck and Sarah belong together. “Walker’s (Sarah) a good woman. It’s not too late.” Adam Baldwin did an incredible job as Casey in this episode!

Chuck 3.09

2010-03-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

"Chuck versus The Beard"

Now that I’m back from the Bruce Lee/Van Damme/Seagal film festival, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Morgan knows! I wrote in a earlier blog entry that the producers were going to have another member of the cast know Chuck’s secret. I’m happy it’s Morgan! Unlike Awesome, Morgan seems fully accepting of Chuck’s spy life, relieved that Chuck no longer has to lie to him, and excited that Chuck finally claimed his destiny with greatness (Chuck 2.02)!

Jeffster’s back! As the rest of the Buy More’s employees unknowingly dug in for a siege against the Ring, Jeff and Lester provided the anthem of liberty! What would seem ridiculous in other shows just fits in nicely with “Chuck”, be it Jeffster singing “Fortunate Son”, Big Mike’s Braveheart speech, the employees raising the Buy Moria flag like the Marines at Iwo Jima, or the two Buy More employees recreating the Times Square Kiss after V-J day!

Subway’s back! After victory over the Ring, Chuck and Morgan play Duck Hunt while eating meatball marinara subs. This is the start of the Subway tie-ins with “Chuck”. Even one of the later episodes this season is “Chuck vs. The Subway”. With any luck, I’ll finally get to see Sarah wear a Subway uniform! And for all my Sarah fantasies, how about Ellie in that bikini?

My new favorite episode of the season, this blog post deserves another photo! Jeffster, once more:

My Favorite Line: “The only thing I hate more than hippy, neo-liberal fascist anarchists are the hypocrite fat cat suits they eventually grow up to become.”

My Coolest Moment: So many to choose from, but I’m going to pick Jeff inadvertently saving Casey from enemy Ring agents. Something tells me that no matter what he may see or do, Jeff is just never going to figure out the Chuck, Sarah and Casey are spies!

Charah Scene: Chuck regaining his Intersect powers after confessing to Morgan his love for Sarah. Awww...

Draw One Get One Free

2010-03-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

In writing “Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase”, I realized that I wanted Gigi to wear an action outfit in the story. I wanted clothing that was protective yet light weight, snug yet non-bulky, non-restrictive yet fashionable. Something I could easily imagine Gigi wearing alongside Emma Peel, Sarah Walker or Cara.

When the character sheet came back I found myself pleasantly surprised that there were two outfits for Gigi: one with a jacket and a leather tank top version. I like both versions, so choosing one over the other would be especially hard!

Fortunately, I didn’t have to make that decision. My script has Gigi wearing an action outfit in a cold and a warm setting. Gigi will wear the jacket version with the pages inside a cryo storage facility and the tank top outfit in a scene that takes place at the beach. This way I get to use both fashions in my story!

And if you’re a fan of Gigi sporting that Still Life bikini from the first Pretty Vacant story, don’t worry -- Gigi promises to wear one in the sequel (not that she has any choice in the matter)!

Update: Enjoy watching Cara while you can. "Legend Of The Seeker" might be canceled.

Chuck 3.08

2010-03-01T22:15:00.001-08:00

“Chuck versus the Fake Name”

Now that I’m back from the DMV to legally change my name, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Chuck assumes the identity of Ring-hired hitman Rafe Gruber, while Sarah tells Shaw her real name. As Chuck the spy becomes better at lying, Sarah the person tries to hold on to something she believes she is losing. Chuck became a spy because that’s what he thought Sarah wanted, but Sarah loves Chuck for what he was – an ordinary nice guy! Here’s hoping the producers can untangle this mess before the season ends.

It was nice to see Casey in the tough guy role he was meant to have, rather than just the sarcastic comedy relief. Just in case you forgot that Colonel Casey is the backbone of Team Bartowski, he allows Chuck to pull out a tooth to maintain Chuck’s cover and shows off his marksman abilities in the same episode! It was cool to see Casey save the day once more.

Despite the sticky ending of Chuck tactlessly breaking up with Hannah over dinner with her parents, this was an enjoyable episode! I’m sure future episodes will sort out the Chuck/Sarah relationship, but I’m going to miss Hannah. Some of you kept telling me that Hannah was a spy and I couldn’t say anything. Now I can say that Hannah is a ordinary cute girl who didn’t like the way Chuck dumped her.

I’m also going to miss the two wiseguys, Paulie and Skip. They reminded me of a mafia Jeff and Lester!

My Favorite Line: “Jeff, if you double dip, you’ll kill us all!”

My Coolest Moment: Casey saving the day by taking a shot only five people in the world can make.

Charah Scene: Sarah spying on Chuck and Hannah having dinner and wishing she was in Hannah’s place. Awww...

Vancouver No More: A Breakdown Of "Chuck"

2010-02-28T07:26:00.001-08:00

Now that I’m back from the Men’s Curling Final (Go, Canada!) in Vancouver, let’s break down Season 3 of “Chuck”…

With seven episodes in and twelve to go, Chuck finds himself in a different place from the end of Season Two. Chuck is a much more competent spy. In last season’s 22 episodes, Chuck saved Sarah only three times (Chuck 2.02, 2.13 and 2.22). This season has been a turnaround, with Chuck and Sarah rescuing each other an equal number of times. Chuck is still using his intersect abilities in unusual ways as the previous two episodes had Chuck saving Sarah with a nacho sampler plate and an antiquities vase.

One misstep that occurred was that the producers underestimated the desire fans have to see Chuck and Sarah together. This was evident at last year’s Comic-Con when the crowd jeered when told that Chuck and Sarah would not hook up during Season 3, so the producers should not have been caught unaware as the forums exploded in anger over “Chuck vs. The Mask” with Chuck and Sarah starting relationships with other people. Producers do have the right to run the show as they like, but they do run the risk of a backlash whenever they do something that is not to the fans' liking. The problem with “Chuck” is magnified because it is perceived that fan support convinced NBC to give “Chuck” another season. With any luck this problem will work its way out over the last twelve episodes.

With the trio (Chuck, Sarah and Casey) plus Hannah and Shaw, the supporting characters have been pushed to the side. Budget cuts have made this necessary, but I hope the lack of Morgan, Jeffster, Awesome, Ellie and Big Mike only means that the producers are saving their appearances until later in the season when episodes accelerate to a climatic season finale! With Chuck’s dad coming back for the last six episodes, it should be a wild ride to the finish.

If Season 2 was any indication, “Chuck” is saving its best episodes for Season 3 until the end. Hopefully we’ll finally see Subway tie-ins, Sarah in sexy outfits (like the nurse’s outfit in “Chuck vs. The Angel de la Muerte”) and more Jeffster! I would watch a sitcom that had just Jeff and Lester. NBC take note!

My Favorite Episode (So Far): “Chuck vs. First Class”

My Coolest Moment (So Far): Shaw being brought back to life by Awesome (“Chuck vs. Operation Awesome”)

My Favorite Fight Scene (So Far): Sarah -- in that nurse’s outfit!

Charah Scene (So Far): Sarah discovering that Chuck became a spy because of her (“Chuck vs. The Three Words”)

Chuck 3.07

2010-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

“Chuck versus the Mask”

Now that I’m back from the Mask of Alexander exhibit, here are my thoughts on last night’s episode…

Chuck and Sarah finally get to hook up! Too bad it’s not with each other. Still, as a cliffhanger until March, I actually like the Chuck-Hannah and Sarah-Shaw relationships. I don’t think anyone doubts that Chuck and Sarah will be together in the long run (or perhaps episode 13), but Hannah and Shaw are likeable characters and maybe a glimpse of the relations Chuck and Sarah would have had if they didn’t meet.

The main story revolves around Team Bartowski stealing the Mask of Alexander (where the Ring has hidden a secret weapon) in an unnamed museum’s computerized vault, making good use of Hannah and Chuck’s computer skills. I liked how the theft gave us a fun triangle: Sarah is in yet another bone-crunching hand-to-hand fight with a Ring Agent as Chuck dangles from the ceiling above the artifact while Hannah unknowingly tries to get the vault doors opened remotely!

A decent episode to go out on into winter break, I was sad when Morgan discovered Chuck and Hannah making out, since Morgan had designs on her as well. At least Ellie doesn’t have to wonder why Chuck’s always disappearing for now, and Casey provided the much needed comic relief that makes “Chuck” so endearing to me!

My Favorite Line: “When do I get to blow something up?”

My Coolest Moment: The museum is off the PCH. It’s only 30 minutes from my home!

Charah Scene: Chuck and Sarah approving of each other’s newest relationship. Just breaks the heart.

She's Waiting For Me

2010-02-08T02:51:00.000-08:00

I was late, and I had no one to blame but me.

Too many obligations.
Too many distractions.
Too many people.

Especially since the only person I wanted to see this day was Colleen, the lady who was the basis for my Gigi character. And I was running late.

I drove my car as fast and hard as I could, knowing it still wouldn’t be enough. I silently swore at every red light that made me momentarily stop. I put on a tie as best I could driving 50 miles per hour on the street. And I ignored the ring tone on my cell, as I knew it was my tax office reminding me I was late.

Forty-five minutes late. I parked, grabbed a copy of Pretty Vacant from the back seat of my car and briskly walked into my office. I fully expected Colleen to be angry, gone, or worse, having another tax preparer work on her return. I entered the room, and saw her.

Patiently waiting for me.

Pretending not to listen to the receptionist admonish me for my tardiness, I walked over to Colleen, ready to explain everything. However, Colleen saw me, rushed over to me…

… and embraced me much longer than an acquaintance should.

Without warning, my words left me. All I could whisper was, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she replied.

“But I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she repeated.

Sometime after that, Colleen introduced me to her daughter and I started working on the return. As I prepared Colleen’s return, she seemed more interested in what was going on with my life (Pretty Vacant, The Dodgers, Chuck) than in her own tax refund (which was quite sizeable, by the way). During our brief time, I dominated most of the conversation, which made me apologize once again.

“I talk too much,” I confessed.

Colleen had a confession of her own: “I like hearing you talk.”

After she paid for her return, I walked Colleen and her daughter out to the parking lot. I signed her issue of Pretty Vacant, and she held me once more. I knelt down and bumped fists with her kid and stood up to watch the lady with the most amazing eyes walk away, youngster in tow.

Same time next year. Can’t wait!

Chuck 3.06

2010-02-01T22:09:00.001-08:00

“Chuck versus the Nacho Sampler”

Now that I’m back from Weap-Con in Dubai, here are some thoughts on last night’s episode…

Every comic book or sci-fi hero has to meet his evil twin, and in this episode Chuck meets Manoosh! Manoosh is like Chuck Bartowski without the morals, and Chuck was really pained when he had to bring Manoosh down. Casey was impressed, but Sarah is worried: the man she fell in love with (because Chuck wasn’t like Casey or the other spies) is changing. I like the role reversal this season as Sarah is becoming softer while Chuck is getting harder.

It’s about time Ellie and the Buy Morians start to realize that something is up with Chuck. Even newcomer Hannah sees it. The producers want another supporting member of the cast to find out about Chuck’s secret spy life – it will be interesting to find out who it will be!

Not a feel-good episode like last week’s “Chuck versus First Class”, but an equally important one, as we saw how different Chuck’s life would have been if Sarah did not have feelings for him. And my biggest laugh of the episode came from someone I did not expect: Sarah (and that mid-riff shirt)!

My Favorite Line: “You aim carefully now, Bartowski -- don’t you make me a eunuch; otherwise I’ll teach you the meaning of ‘eye-for-an-eye!’”

My Coolest Moment: The look on Casey’s face as the trio entered Weap-Con. I wonder if I have that same face at Comic-Con or Angouleme.

Charah Scene: Chuck saving Sarah with a nacho plate. Awww...

The Continuing Characterization of Gigi Gutierrez

2010-01-24T20:08:00.001-08:00

Every good writer has an inventory of characters in the back of his or her mind. Even though these characters seem to appear out of thin air, they are a culmination of a solid foundation embellished by inspiration and the imagination. A well-rounded character is necessary to undergo a change in a story, be it in a gradual or forceful fashion. In Pretty Vacant, Gigi is that character.

I recently had a conversation with my friend David regarding the origins of my Gigi character. If you follow this blog, you should remember that I based Gigi off my acquaintance Colleen.

However, I also told David that I based Gigi’s athletic, outdoorsy body off of Raquel Welch (sorry, Colleen!) circa 1970, the young actress who danced with Bob Hope and US Servicemen during the Vietnam War, starred as a roller derby star in Kansas City Bomber…
…and danced this rather kitschy number in her own television special!

At the beginning of Pretty Vacant, Gigi’s character starts off a little naïve. Sure, she’s attractive, tough and brave, but she doesn’t realize the danger posed by the Still Life Corporation. Gigi thought Still Life wanted her image as a mannequin model, not knowing they wanted her body as a model mannequin!

I patterned Gigi at this point after Leela from “Doctor Who”:
Leela was savage and strong, but lacked the knowledge to keep herself from blundering into situations where the good Doctor had to save her. Brains over brawn was a common theme throughout her tenure on the show from 1977-1978:

Later in the story, and with a little luck, Gigi barely escapes from the fate originally planned for her. After learning what Still Life is capable of doing, she fights back to save herself and her friends in her own dynamic style.

I really enjoyed this kick-butt version of Gigi, as I was able to use Sarah Walker from “Chuck” as my inspiration.The super-cool CIA super-spy Sarah is incredibly good-looking, highly capable and strangely mothering. My favorite part in Pretty Vacant was when Gigi threw a baseball as a weapon. Coincidentally, my favorite fight scene from 2009 showed Sarah using a broken cd and a tire pressure gage in her brawl against a Chinese Triad leader.

As I write this, my friend Danny is hard at work penciling my next Pretty Vacant story. It was difficult for me to think up a suitable sequel now that Gigi is Sarah Walker-capable, but the basic premise for Pretty Vacant: Vegas Showcase is still about Mad Scientists making money to fund their evil experiments. Since Gigi is more skillful, Still Life has to be that much more diabolical.

36 Pick-Up

2010-01-10T12:18:00.001-08:00

It’s time to cue the Slash solo once again, because nothing lasts forever, even David Tennant’s reign!

After five years and 36 stories, Tennant has given the role of BBC’s "Doctor Who" to another actor. I must admit that I’ve enjoyed the Tenth Doctor’s adventures as much as my favorite Doctor – Tom Baker’s Fourth! It could be convincingly argued that Tennant’s tenure on the show as the last Time Lord has been instrumental in the show’s recent success.

"Doctor Who" has always had good acting and terrific writing, but now the BBC has given the show a decent budget for special effects. While that may please the fanboy in me, the main reason why "Doctor Who" now has universal appeal is that David Tennant made his portrayal of the Doctor sexy – confirmed by my nieces squealing when Tennant appeared at last year’s Comic-Con!

I do plan on watching the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor, but I’m sad that Tennant’s era as the last Time Lord has finally come to an end this month.

And as one show winds down, another show winds up…
Starting its 36th episode after a nine month layoff, "Chuck" comes back for yet another season on NBC. As much as the network is touting Chuck’s new abilities, his main focus is still simple: he wants to do a good job and win the girl’s heart. Granted, the job is being the US Government’s most important asset and the girl in question is the incredibly good-looking CIA super-spy Sarah, but you get the idea.

I’m surprised that "Chuck" barely got renewed last year. It’s a rare all-ages family show. My nieces, mother and Pretty Vacant fans (hey there!) all watch. And why not? No other television show currently blends comedy, action and romance as well as "Chuck"! I just wish that the producers would finally let Chuck and Sarah be together.

I eagerly await Season Three of "Chuck", because nothing lasts forever, even Chuck and Sarah’s pain!

(Okay, I’m going to stop the November Rain gag – unless I can come up with another cool variation!)

Update: I’m thoroughly enjoying this current season. However, Chuck and Sarah are still not together, darn the luck!

Highly Disproportional Assets

2009-12-31T08:37:00.001-08:00

Along with countless other people, I will be happy to see 2009 go. Yet despite everything that went wrong this year, I can’t say 2009 was all bad for me, because I accomplished two things I really wanted to do this year: start a blog and publish Pretty Vacant. I surprised a lot of people (including myself) with its publication.

My last comic book, The New GARDE, was a take on superheroes: people from the past showing today’s world what it takes to be true heroes. It was a severe change in direction when Pretty Vacant’s high-tech damsel-in-distress story debuted. The New GARDE was a successful, distributed book. Why take the chance with Pretty Vacant?

It was probably equal parts ambition, anger and arrogance that made me create Pretty Vacant. I wanted to make a leap of creativity from standard super heroes to a story never before seen in comics before, using the Beatles growth from their Cavern days to Psychedelia as my model. I was angry that some people thought Pretty Vacant would be too expensive to make as a film, so I crafted it as an inexpensive three dollar comic book. And I was arrogant enough to try pulling it off.

I figured if I was going to fail, I may as well fail big! And it could have backfired on me big time: my fans could have rejected the new focus, women could have called it sexist, fetishists could have said it was too tame, and my more conservative friends could have labeled it degenerative. I am grateful they did not.

First and foremost, Pretty Vacant is a good story. As much as I would like to take credit for that as the creator and writer, I would also like to credit one of the comic’s characters. Pretty Vacant is a good story made better by an individual the readers can root for to the end. Gigi is capable, resilient and beautiful…
… and completely easy for me to write for tomorrow.

Happy 2010 everyone!

Have Yourself A Pretty Vacant Christmas*

2009-12-01T05:51:00.001-08:00

Check Off Chekhov's Gun

2009-11-29T05:42:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

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!

U2 360, Pretty Vacant and The Pastor's Daughter

2009-10-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

“Hello, Hello!” Bono sang.
“Hola!” The crowd roared back.
“I’m at a place called Vertigo!”
“Donde esta?” [Where is it?]

Events don’t come any bigger than the U2 360 concert at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl! It was for me the perfect way to erase the bitterness of the Los Angeles Dodgers being eliminated from the playoffs the previous Wednesday…

My pastor had an extra ticket to last night’s performance, but paying him $60 for the ticket was just the start! It cost $20 to park at Pasadena City College, five dollars to take the shuttle to the Rose Bowl, five dollars for a bottle of water (I bought three) and $40 for a concert t-shirt. I didn’t buy a shirt. I didn’t like any of the designs U2 offered, at least not for the price.

There was a line for parking, a line to get inside the Rose Bowl, a line for refreshments, basically a line for everything. My pastor peppering me with comments in line didn’t help: this line’s going nowhere/this can’t be the right way/did Bono have to go through this/which gate do we enter? For a man of faith, he has a surprising inability to suspend his disbelief!

I thought he asked me to accompany him and his 17-year-old daughter because of my ease with big events and crowds (such as San Diego’s Comic Con or the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in London), but apparently he invited me simply to annoy me. I wanted to say: Man up, grow a spine and deal with it! However, I kept my mouth shut. It’s like this all the time at the house, the pastor’s daughter (hereafter referred to as TPD) said apologetically…

Leaving my pastor to guard the seats, it was in line to buy water that I got my first surprise of the evening. That’s when TPD said she read my Pretty Vacant comic. She liked the plasticized-women-as-mannequin-molds saga. Wow, I thought while we walked back to our seats. I’m always happy that other people can enjoy my stories -- even people I wouldn’t expect!

The multi-cultural Hip Hop group Black Eyed Peas were the opening act, and during this set my second surprise of the night occurred. Somewhere between "Where’s The Love?" and "I Gotta Feeling", Slash (formerly of Guns N’ Roses) came out and played lead guitar to the GnR rock classic "Sweet Child O’ Mine", with Fergie singing lead! It was a fun set! I especially liked Black Eyed Peas frontman will i am mentioning various towns and places in the Los Angeles area: La Cresenta, Montebello, East L.A., etc., but points off for not mentioning Hacienda Heights, my – and Fergie’s – childhood town!

U2 finally came on a little after 9 pm and the two and a half hour show didn’t disappoint. Even though most of the songs they performed came off their latest cd No Line On The Horizon (including the first three of the concert), they ran through a very good sample of their past hits, keeping the stadium crowd riveted.

My final surprise of the night came during the encore! In between "One" and "Where The Streets Have No Name", U2 performed the Christian hymn "Amazing Grace"! U2’s mission of bringing people together through music was highly successful last night, with a pastor, comic book creator/accounting analyst, and a student with theatre aspirations in attendance with other more interesting people, complete with a Hispanic gentleman with a big posterior – but that’s a story I’ll save for another day!

And at multi-generational shows such as U2’s, one can impart wisdom to the next generation. When TPD brings her friends and family to a future concert, I do hope she keeps water and cough drops handy, knowing the concert never, ever ends until the stadium lights turn back on!

The Pretty Vacant Stand-Alone Conundrum

2009-10-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

I always wonder if my latest published story will be my last. I was fortunate to do four issues of Codename: Jezebel and five issues of the New G.A.R.D.E., but there is currently only the one issue of Pretty Vacant…

… for now! Mike at Bare Bones Studios has an eight page mini-story for his Pocket Book Heroes comic that I hope will introduce Pretty Vacant to his readers and I have agreed to write another full-sized issue. The sales for issue one (despite not yet having a distribution deal) has been decent, warranting a second issue green light. For that I thank comic shows and the people who attend them!

Even though I wanted Pretty Vacant to continue, I made issue one a stand-alone issue. I didn’t want to walk away from it in the middle of a multi-part story. Too many comics creators do that, and it’s so frustrating. Even Jack Kirby, considered the most influential superhero artist ever, had problems finishing his highly personal, multi-issue Fourth World saga. So Pretty Vacant’s first issue was a complete story, with an ending I liked if it did not sell, yet giving me an opportunity to expand upon what I had already done if sales were good.

I’m now adopting a serialized story format made up of stand-alone stories, a format made popular by such television shows like Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Doctor Who. Each successive issue of Pretty Vacant will be a complete story (with a beginning, middle and end), but feeding into a bigger storyline.

Where does that leave things now? Gigi barely escaped from the exploding Still Life plastination facility, but vowing to rescue Mindy from her frozen fate and to bring the Still Life Corporation down. If anyone is to try and top that, it might as well be me!

The Force Is Strong With This One

2009-10-04T20:13:00.001-07:00

Congratulations are in order to the Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the National League West for two years in a row! And they clinched the division on Star Wars night to boot!

As for me, even though the Dodgers were 50-31 this year at Dodger Stadium, I was a mediocre 6-8. I (and the Dodgers) hope to do much better in the playoffs. Here's to October baseball!

Update: One down, two to go!

Update Two: Argh. I feel like Charlie Brown after Lucy pulled away the football. Again.

A Look Back At Abbey Road

2009-10-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have met many people who have had difficultly choosing a favorite album or compact disc. It is not that way with me and my favorite album, The Beatles Abbey Road, which was released forty years ago.

It is a musically cohesive, innovative and timeless piece of art, made all the more remarkable that Abbey Road was created by four men under thirty who would soon part ways. Numerous compromises had to be made it order to get the album made, but knowing the limits placed upon them gave each of The Beatles a chance to shine.

John Lennon got to explore his avant-garde side while keeping his rock and roll roots. George Harrison wrote two of his best songs for this album. Ringo Starr was able to write and sing a whimsical song with complete backing vocals by the actual Beatles. And as for Paul McCartney, his assemblage of unfinished song fragments is the musical equivalent of Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish!

I won’t go into Abbey Road track by track. Others do it much better than I can, and I don’t think all the songs on the album are perfect. In my humble opinion, Paul should be singing lead on “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, with John singing lead on “Oh! Darling”, and Ringo dropping “Octopus’ Garden” in favor of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”. Yet Abbey Road has genuine warmth to it. The best way I can describe it is by loving someone even more because of his or her flaws rather than being repelled by them.

It doesn’t get any better for me than the “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End” medley that nearly finishes Abbey Road. Paul starts gently by singing about days gone by and is soon joined by the others in chanting a mantra. Paul then contemplates the price paid for their music and the commitment to continue no matter what (even a break-up) may happen next. The foursome follows up with a rollicking jam that gives each Beatle a chance to shine in the spotlight solo, before bringing the group back together once more to end with a cosmic musing!

(And like The Beatles ending Abbey Road out of sorts with the slight “Her Majesty”, let me add that I really like the remastered disc. Paul’s bass playing really jumps out!)

The Pretty Vacant Hot Spot

2009-09-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

To make an effective web-video, one must give a bold, uncompromising creative presentation of what he has to offer. With that in mind, Pretty Vacant Promo 1 was uploaded:

With the technical know-how of my friend Todd, I wrapped supporting character Mindy's fate around the slogan "Creepy... Sexy... and Totally Cool!" And it's not boring! According to YouTube's Hot Spots chart analysis, Pretty Vacant Promo 1 is not only above average in watchability or "hotness", it gets hotter near the end, where the video ironically shows Mindy frozen along with the words "... and Totally Cool!It almost makes you forget that a comic book is being sold! No matter how cool the promo is, you still have to sell the story. It was fun to put together this promo clip, but it's more fun to show off a comic that has been published!

Boy, You're Gonna Carry That Weight

2009-08-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

Abbey Road is my favorite Beatles album, with cool songs and a cool album cover. With the 40th anniversary of the Beatles walk across Abbey Road, there recently have been numerous recollections of people who have crossed the famous English street over the years. This is mine…

I attended UK Comic Con 2002 in Bristol to promote my then current comic, The New G.A.R.D.E. My friend and traveling companion Jim had never been to England before, so we decided to stay 120 miles east in London.

We did all the tourist-y things (Big Ben, Piccadilly Square, Harrods), but we also decided to do something ambitious: walk the entire length of Abbey Road. As we planned our upcoming journey, I somehow got the notion that I could actually take an Abbey Road street sign and sneak it all the way back to my home in Southern California!

From our Kensington District hotel we took the London Underground at Bayswater to the West Hampstead station. We exited onto West End Lane. From there it was a short walk south to Abbey Road and a souvenir street sign, but I was in for a rude awakening.

What a difference 33 years made! The British urban planning authorities were well prepared for my visit. Not only were the Abbey Road street signs bolted onto twenty foot high retaining walls, many of the signs were 16 feet above ground! They obviously did not want any more street signs stolen.

At least we could take photos as to why couldn’t grab a street sign. During our sojourn, Jim and I took lots of pictures. Halfway through our walk, I noticed an Abbey Road sign that was “only” ten feet high. I asked Jim to kneel over by the wall. Before he realized what I planned to do, I had already vaulted on top of him!

I reached up with the camera in my right hand and snapped a close-up shot of the sign. Shortly thereafter, reality caught up with me. I’m not the lightest man in the world, and Jim’s not the strongest. That combination sent us plummeting to earth!

Trying to regain our senses while sprawled on the ground, we were greeted by a cheery constable who asked us to move along. I told her I felt as bad as Beckham after getting red-carded against Argentina while Jim -- still spitting out dirt -- said he preferred the taste of English grass over California grass (Get Back!). The constable stifled a laugh while she bid us a good day.

We got on our feet and continued our trek, but soon it was over. Unlike famous streets in America (New York’s Broadway or LA’s Sunset Boulevard), Abbey Road was a short three-or-four mile walk. Abbey Road ends where the Beatles’ studio resides.

Jim thought it would be cool to have a picture of us crossing Abbey Road like the Beatles in 1969, but it proved impossible. The crossing is a major thoroughfare, and we weren’t famous enough to stop midday traffic. We spotted the St. John’s Wood Undergound station, and headed east.

I walked into the Underground store to buy a Pepsi, and there I saw them: official Abbey Road street signs for sale! I only had five pounds in my wallet. It was either a cool souvenir or dehydration! The choice was clear to me. I purchased the Pepsi.

When I got home to LA (via Paris, but that’s another story), I developed my film rolls, wondering if I got the Abbey Road shot. The picture is at the top of this blog entry, so I did!

Smile, You're At Comic-Con!

2009-08-18T19:07:00.001-07:00

The 2009 Bare Bones Studios group! From left to right: Mike, Sandra, Me, Killer Robot Rob and Carlos.

E7? Where's That?

2009-07-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

Comic-Con 2009 is over, and it's the same for me every year. At the beginning of the Con I'm pumped and ready to go, but at the end I'm crawling away, barely alive...

This year I promoted my Pretty Vacant comic book through the Bare Bones Studios table at E7. To save on the cost of a table (and to have a table at all), I teamed up with three other people: Mike, the bunny-eared leader (who had to choose between publishing his book or eating -- he chose to eat), Rob, who cosplays as a killer robot every year, and Sandra, coming back to the Con after a brief hiatus.

As valuable as pooling resources is to maintain costs, getting along with your partners is probably more important. The great thing is that the four of us get along very well; much so that by the end of the show we instinctively knew the other’s selling points even when they were not around!

Our selling points were all unique. My own Pretty Vacant: how mad scientists make money to fund their evil experiments, Mike's Battlescars: where the villians wear the costumes, Rob's Shadow Prophecy: touted as "The Worst Comic Book Ever," and Sandra's amazing art prints, ranging from cute girl art to erotica.

I’m grateful that Mike provided the table even though he had no new product! Only Rob would dare sell a comic book by offering a refund if he or she actually liked it! As for Sandra, attendees were offering her $50 for a single commission piece! I was just happy whenever I sold a three dollar copy of Pretty Vacant…
As Comic-Con shifted its focus away from comic books to other popular arts over the past few years, the convention crowds have gotten tougher. Movie studios, toy companies and even the bigger comic companies all give away cool swag at the show. Attendees are expecting more and more freebies. Though inexpensive, comic books aren’t free. Sandra and I each had free postcards to give away, but we both ran out well before the show ended. Fortunately, Mike had the ideal solution for our table -- stickmen!

Mike glued thousands of Styrofoam balls onto popsicle sticks to create his stickmen. With the help of his friend Carlos, they enticed attendees with the offer of “free action figures!” It worked. People would come by the table to see what the fuss was all about. Some turned away, no doubt feeling deceived, but most of the Con-goers actually got the joke.

On the first day of the show, one attendee felt slighted because her stickman had no face. I snatched her stickman and proceeded to draw a happy face on the Styrofoam ball with a black marker. Delighted, she turned and bragged that her action figure had a face, prompting many other conventioneers to come by the table to receive a customized ball on a stick!

Thus I became the unofficial “artist” of Bare Bones’ stickmen. I was soon drawing every face imaginable: happy, sad, angry, even zombie (it is Comic-Con, after all)! My favorite came from a lady who noticed the Beatles shirt I was wearing on Day Two and asked me to draw her stickman face “like Paul McCartney.” I drew two dashes and a blackened oval. I waved her stickman back and forth and sang, “whooooo!” Satisfied, she even bought a Pretty Vacant comic, which was the point.

We were loud, brash and in people’s faces. These are not attributes I normally exhibit in my day-to-day life, but at Comic-Con, it’s a necessity. Nice guys don’t sell comics. Funny, talented, give-stickmen-away-for-free guys sell comics! By getting people to our table, we were able to show them the items we had for sale: be it Pretty Vacant, Sandra’s art prints, or “The Worse Comic Book EVER.” Mike even got to talk about his upcoming book.

I’m not going to dwell on the negative things like temporarily losing my voice, sore feet, or that 12 year-old kid who looked at my stuff and said, “You suck!” I was able to cover the expenses for printing Pretty Vacant with the sales I made at Comic-Con, but that’s just a nice bonus.

Hanging out with creative people, seeing old friends (Rachel, Danny and Jennifer), meeting new friends (Mike, Phil and Elizabeth), giving advice on a panel (“Try to sum up your idea in a sentence”), attending the Chuck panel with my nieces, and a baseball-heavy lunch conversation with my good friend Rodney are the memories I will take away from this event!

Let me add that Rodney really liked Pretty Vacant.

Mike, Rob, Sandra and I agreed to split the table next year. If you attend 2010’s Comic-Con and see a killer robot, give the robot some love. Rock on, killer robot!

And I do hope the lady who had nicest smile at Comic-Con comes back to sell her comic book in 2010!

The ‘Joie de Vivre’ of Comics: San Diego Comic-Con

2009-07-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

With a new book to promote, one would imagine that Comic-Con would be the ideal place to debut Pretty Vacant. Yet it is not, and it leads me to my main criticism about Comic-Con: the focus is not on comic books anymore.

Comic-Con once took only films and television shows with a comic book, sci-fi or fantasy bent. Now it seems that it will take studio money no matter what the show’s content may be. Where Heroes and the V remake are a definite fit with Comic-Con, Chuck and The Big Bang Theory are only borderline fits at best. But Dexter and Weeds? No staffer gave me a decent explanation as to why those shows were at the Con.

Comic books? The big joke was that comic books were the endangered species at its own show! Where I was selling Pretty Vacant, other tables were selling t-shirts, films, jewelry, toys, and there was even a table showcasing a Playboy bunny! There were only two tables selling comic books in my aisle.

Despite all its flaws, I love Comic-Con! Even if studios and attendees don’t care about comic creators, the Con still treats them very well. I always want to see what new comic books are out or are being planned. It’s great to meet friends that I only seem to see at the show. And I love how almost everything offered at Comic-Con is accessible to everyone – even if Hollywood is now starting up exclusive invitation only parties outside the San Diego Convention Center.

Exclusivity ruined the Sundance Film Festival. What started as a low-profile festival for small independent films has become a media extravaganza for Hollywood. I can only hope that the same fate doesn’t befall my beloved Comic-Con!

Alas! Poor Mindy, I Knew Her Well...

2009-07-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Pretty Vacant starts off fast! Page One opens with an accosted Mindy being sedated. Unseen antagonists have special plans for Mindy and her friend Gigi, kicking off the perilous plot.

Since the original pitch for Pretty Vacant was how mad scientists make money to fund their evil experiments, it’s obvious that Mindy’s fate will be something insidious. Indeed, Mindy is plastinated to make casting molds for the Still Life Corporation’s new mannequin products.

Cruel? Probably. Unfair? Perhaps. Necessary? Yes.

Mindy’s fate is crucial to the story. By linking it with Gigi’s, Gigi is made vulnerable. Suspense can now build when Gigi undergoes the same process as Mindy, leaving doubt that Gigi could prevail!

Some characters are not destined to be the lead. Mindy’s part is short but essential, and appropriately given a beautiful demise. In a supporting role her character shines, not as bright as the comic’s stars, but just as intense!

Team USA: Royal Pain For Spain

2009-06-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

Given no chance by pretty much the rest of the world, the US National Men's Soccer Team yesterday defeated Spain, the Number 1 ranked team in the world, 2-0! After losing the first two matches of the 2009 Confederations Cup Tornament, Team USA is now playing in the tornament final this weekend.

Looking at the picture above, one can see how hard Clint Dempsey (number 8) had to work to score. It's also a good metaphor for life. Talent will only get you so far. You have to keep working at something to achieve it, be it a game, a degree, a home, and yes, even a comic book!

I've heard many great comic ideas from friends and associates but I see nothing getting published. It's important to be able to finish what you start. It may not be perfect, but I'll let you in a secret: nothing is perfect. Try your best and the rest tends to sort itself out. Just have a little fun along the way!

Update: Someday Team USA will beat Brazil!

Frozen Alive Girl!

2009-06-21T07:13:00.001-07:00

Here are two different icy business models:

Business #1: The Still Life Corporation delivers life-like mannequins to department stores to display merchandise for customers to buy. Still Life doesn’t charge anything to the buying public; the stores pay Still Life for the mannequins.

Business #2: The Frozen Girl Alive Exhibit displays a scantily-clad woman frozen in ice at a science fair as an “advancement in biotechnology,” as the public pays for merchandise, refreshments and services the fair provides. The Exhibit doesn’t charge anything to the buying public; the fair pays the Exhibit for the entertainment.

Of course, the Still Life example is from my Pretty Vacant comic book. Still Life finds suitable women, plasticizes them for mannequin molds, freezes them to be used later, and sells mannequins made from molds of these women to stores at a profit.

However, Frozen Alive was an actual attraction in the early 20th century, with the auspicious exhibit shown in various carnivals and even the 1939 World’s Fair.

The exhibit would last almost until closing time when a barker (probably the owner) would announce that they would now cut through the ice and the woman would come out of her frozen state, standing, shivering and smiling to the applauding crowd, only to re-freeze this woman for the next show, as the owner would sell souvenirs and collect local merchant fees for a profit.

And some people think Pretty Vacant is far-fetched! Some stuff just can’t be made up…

Objet d'Art

2009-06-14T18:12:00.001-07:00

Alongside Dodger Stadium, the Getty Museum is one of my favorite places to be in LA! I do like art, and every once in a while art can inspire, like this sculpture between the main buildings and the gardens:
Aristide Maillol’s Torso of Summer is an artwork that snuck up on me. I finally got to take a picture of it during my last visit to the Getty. And believe it or not, it was the pose that caught my attention, not its other attributes…
… which leads me to my Pretty Vacant comic. When Still Life first inspects the plasticized Gigi after the mannequin mold-making machine opens, I didn’t want a standard mannequin pose (like the standard stand-at-attention-arms-at-side pose). I wanted an something artistic, one that would make her stand out from the other “body molds”.

I can create an exciting story and throw in high brow reference like Gigi’s artistic “pose” just for the fun of it. It's a small touch that makes working on this comic cool!

How I Saved $999,990.00

2009-05-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

You can create a million dollar movie set on a ten dollar comic art board! Here’s the plastination set in Pretty Vacant -- complete with Still Life's plastination vat, body shape moldmaker, flourine shower, cryogenic freeze and storage units, courtesy of Robert Zailo, Oscar DeAnda and myself:

Comics, thank goodness, are content related. People buy your book if they are interested in the subject matter inside. I’m not above taking advertising money, but that doesn’t dictate whether or not I publish. Compare that to television, where shows were renewed and or cancelled based on the level of advertising interest.

Of course, placing your material on the internet has little or no cost at all, but how many people make money on the web? Comics are still the cheapest way to get your vision across and make a little cash.

So if you want to make those million-dollar high-tech sets with cgi special effects, knock yourself out with a comic book! It won’t cost nearly as much as a summer movie blockbuster...

Chuck Me Baby One More Time!

2009-05-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

NBC’s action-comedy “Chuck” is hard to sum up in a sentence, but I’m going to try anyway: “Chuck” is about a geeky but kind-hearted computer repairman who inadvertently downloads the entire US Intelligence database (Intersect) into his brain and must now go on secret missions for the government, aided and protected by the highly efficient, sarcastic NSA assassin Casey and the super-cool CIA super-spy Sarah.

Even with that lengthy sentence I have not done enough to accurately describe the show. I admit that I am not the harshest critic of the show. I am willing to wait out mediocre episodes in order to watch the truly great ones, because “Chuck” is the most hysterically funny, romantically sweet, hyper violent family show on TV today! Yes -- family show.

Despite having low viewer ratings for much of the year, NBC has renewed “Chuck” for a third season. The internet campaign for a third season renewal was very commendable, with fans, television journalists and advertisers all backing the show. Unfortunately, since network backing gave “Chuck” a second season renewal and fan passion won it a third, only more viewers will now ensure a fourth.

While the show’s hiatus until spring 2010 is not a perfect situation, now is an ideal time to acquaint people with “Chuck.” Lending your DVDs is a good place to start, and thewb.com, hulu and nbc.com are currently streaming episodes. And if the “You’ll like it” response isn’t enough to satisfy your family and friends’ curiosity, tell them that “Chuck” is a great show and there are some very good reasons as to why.

1. “Chuck” is fun. Other action shows are dark and gritty, but “Chuck” has a feel good quality to it. There is no other show on television that can have a major firefight with Styx’ “Mister Roboto” as background music or have a Special Forces unit plan a wedding with military precision! “Chuck” can be highly improbable and ridiculous (check out the workers at the Buy More store), but a lot is forgiven simply because it is funny.

2. Chuck's ingenuity. Chuck Bartowski is no ordinary agent. Chuck (Zachary Levi) comes up with solutions that top agents Casey or Sarah would never dream of having. Who else could stop a bomb with a computer porn virus? Or prevent a nuclear missile strike on Los Angeles by playing Missile Command? Or use laughing gas to elicit information on the whereabouts of an international terrorist? It also works with his day job at the Buy More by once having to explain his absence as “on-site computer repair” when he was actually helping a Chinese spy defect.

3. Sarah’s bodyguard crush. Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah) is INCREDIBLY good looking -- and a terrific actress as well! She can give viewers a Sarah who is tough, funny and vulnerable, sometimes in the same scene! Strahovski is completely believable as an agent who can kick major butt and fall in love with the “asset” she is supposed to protect. The third season renewal for “Chuck” gives us another year of this Australian’s amazing acting abilities!

4. The music. This show has used songs from musicians as diverse as crooner Burl Ives to indie artists Slow Club. I would have never listened to Bon Iver if it were not for “Chuck.” The music fits well with the action, especially when songs from the 1980s are used. Three ‘80s songs especially stand out with me: when Chuck and Sarah kissed in the Buy More to Huey Lewis And The News “Do You Believe In Love,” when Chuck and Sarah posed as a married couple in suburbia with Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (“This is not my beautiful house – this is not my beautiful wife”) and when Sarah and Casey stormed an enemy organization's headquarters to rescue Chuck to the tune of Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

5. Casey unleashed! Major John Casey is a man of few words. Even in the most extreme situation, Casey (Adam Baldwin) does more with a grunt than most characters do with entire sentences! He is quite efficient at everything he does, whether it is assassinating rogue agents or selling a barbeque grill at Buy More. A lot of humor comes out of Casey’s cover as a Buy More employee. And it’s fun to spot the Ronald Reagan photo in Casey’s apartment!

6. “Chuck” got better. There were some mediocre episodes halfway through Season Two, but the later episodes were exceptional. The last ten Season Two episodes built on the previous ones and expanded the storyline all the way to the season finale, making those episodes must see viewing! The characters grew, mysteries were solved, and the stakes got higher -- all culminating with Chuck now possessing Intersect-aided super powers! And Season Three seems limitless…

… if not for the ratings. Frankly, the ratings for “Chuck” are not good. Even if it is debatable, NBC has done its part. Advertisers such as Subway have done their part. Now it’s time for us to do ours and watch “Chuck,” even if Chuck now knows kung fu, even if Casey is now a Colonel, even if Sarah’s new cover is making sandwiches! If any character can make those Subway employee uniforms look good, the smart money’s on Sarah!

It's Alive!

2009-05-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Creating the perfect woman is hard work!

The one thing to remember when writing a damsel-in-distress story is the damsel! Without a female character for the reader to cheer for in the story the thriller will not be as exciting.

With that in mind, I wanted certain criteria when I first created the Gigi Gutierrez character for Pretty Vacant:

1. Gigi had to be pretty
2. Still Life would want to use Gigi for their evil scheme
3. Gigi would be scantily clad
4. Gigi had to be able to fight back

People have asked who my inspiration was for Gigi. I based Gigi off a real person, Colleen, a sales rep acquaintance of mine. Colleen is always happy to see me (probably because I prepare her tax returns every year), and she was flattered that I thought of her when I created Gigi.

I don’t see Colleen that often, so I used more of my imagination with Gigi. I tried to match Colleen’s amazing eyes with Gigi, but I made Gigi much taller and athletic. I wanted Gigi to match Still Life’s ideal mannequin model, so Still Life would want to keep her in ice as a “body mold.”

Very few people are comfortable showing off their body. It was tough to choose a profession for Gigi that requires as little clothing as possible. An actress, cheerleader or model was too clichéd for me. An athlete seemed ideal, but which sport? Watching the Summer Olympics provided the answer with a sport that has bikinis for uniforms: beach volleyball!

One thing I didn’t want Gigi to have in my first Pretty Vacant story was a gun. I did want Gigi to have a weapon, I just wanted something unconventional. Being a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers made the choice simple. A baseball may at first seem harmless, but imagine getting hit by one thrown at 90 miles an hour. It’s not fun!

My greatest thrill in comics is creating. And I created a cool female character in Gigi!

The 'Joie de Vivre' of Comics: Lettering

2009-05-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lettering a comic book sucks!

There. I’ve said it. Comic book lettering is akin to playing the bass in a cool rock band. Nobody cares! I have to wonder if Adam Clayton of U2 looks at his other bandmates and tells himself, “I didn’t join this band to make those doofi look good!”

Think about it this way: nobody thinks about the bass line Paul McCartney played when John Lennon sang Strawberry Fields Forever. However, Lennon’s bass playing on McCartney’s The Long And Winding Road was so atrocious that the Beatles hid the bass by adding strings! Nobody thinks about the bass line when it’s good. They only care if it sucks!

It’s the same way with comics. The incredible 1977-1981 X-men run of Chris Claremont and John Byrne had wonderful stories and art. Anybody remember the letterer? Tom Orzechowski. How many people know that Dave Gibbons drew and lettered the classic Watchmen? Not too many. Now imagine how these great stories would look if they were lettered by an eight year old and a crayon!

So what does this have to do with me? I was asked by my friend Robert Zailo to letter a story he illustrated, titled Speed Trap! I don’t really think of myself as a comics letterer, but he told me that he really liked the lettering I did on my previous books. I only letter my books because I’ve been disappointed with lettering in my past stories! But I agreed to do it anyway.

Comic lettering is a balance between the writer’s story and the artist’s drawings. I’ve never gotten any chicks by lettering a comic, but it’s an important job -- one that hardly ever gets noticed. I worked hard to letter Robert’s pages. I lettered the writer’s words without blocking Robert’s storytelling. I turned them in on time. Robert said thanks, made photocopies, and promptly forgot them! Perhaps I should too…

Date With Destiny!

2009-05-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

It's tough with the L.A. traffic to reach Dodger Stadium, but there is no better place to watch a baseball game in the world!* I have seen some great games at the ballpark, including Dodger second baseman Orlando Hudson hitting for the cycle on opening day.

The Dodgers are riding on a 13 game home winning streak to start the season, a new major league record. I just hope I don't jinx their winning streak by attending tonight...

*In my humble opinion.

Update: Drat! And double drat! I'm now three wins and one loss this year at Dodger Stadium. The three wins were boring, and the one loss was exciting. I would rather take a boring win any day!

The Beautiful Demise -- My Top Five

2009-05-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

It has been said that death is never pretty. Ancient Spartans never believed that and neither do I. Killing off a beautiful lady is an effective way to move the story along, whether the intention is heroic, shocking, or even illuminating. The only hard and fast rule is that the woman is more beautiful after her demise than when she was breathing! In my upcoming Pretty Vacant comic I use the demise (and plastination) of the Mindy character to show how dangerous the situation is:

The beautiful demise is a time honored tradition, from Shakespeare to the current day. In descending order, here are five from movies that have left an impression on me. It is the only reason why I would even mention some of these actresses at all!

5. Jill Masterson – Goldfinger (1964)

An all-time classic! Jill’s death propels James Bond to enact revenge against her employer, Auric Goldfinger, by way of Fort Knox and flying bowlers. Shirley Eaton was in other movies, but I don’t remember her in any role except for the gilded Jill.

4. Scooti Manista – Doctor Who: The Impossible Planet (2006)
Did I mention television? I didn’t, but this episode was so epic in scale that I thought I was watching a movie. It’s a classic base-under-siege Doctor Who story, but with a lot more money in the BBC’s budget. Scooti (MyAnna Buring) glimpses the ultimate evil and the ultimate evil returns the favor by shooting her out of an airlock into space!

As Scooti’s lifeless body drifts toward a black hole, The Doctor, his assistant Rose and the surviving base members are helpless to do anything but watch! Fortunately, The Doctor wins his face off with the ultimate evil. Think biblical.

3. Lucinne Garnier – Prix de Beauté (1930)
I had to attend many an all-night cinema during my freshman year in college due to my roommate banging more chicks than a poultry farmer! However, I did get to see films directed by Fritz Lang and Akira Kurosawa and silent movies starring Louise Brooks. Brooks was a revelation to me, someone whose beauty transcended time, sound and color!
In Prix de Beauté (Beauty Prize en Francais), Lucinne (Brooks) is pestered by her boyfriend to enter a beauty contest, which she wins. She then decides to enter the Miss Europe contest. Surrounded by admirers, Lucinne enters a theatre watching a film clip of herself singing a song, when she is shot by her jealous boyfriend. I was floored when I first saw this movie’s end, watching the dead Lucinne in contrast with her film image still ‘alive’ on the screen!

2. Gretchen Maollmann – Anatomie (2000)

This German film was really well done, combining German creepiness with the American horror movie model. Gretchen (Anna Loos) is the top student accepted to a prestigious medical internship at the prestigious Heidelberg research institute, where there are plastinated cadavers on display for study.

A big twist is that Gretchen is not only the top student, but the school slut, sleeping with various students. One particularly eye-popping scene has Gretchen and a fellow student making out on a morgue table. This unfortunately leaves one jealously psychotic ex-boyfriend…

Not only does the ex-boyfriend kill her and the other student, but there’s this wonderfully creepy scene where he unveils Gretchen as a plasticized statue! One half of Gretchen’s body reveals her nude, where the other half has had the skin peeled off – showing her true inner “beauty.”

1. Wilma Soong – Kiss The Girls And Make Them Die (1966)

For only 15 minutes of screen time in the movie, Miss Soong (Seyna Seyn) made the most of what she had. When the Chinese spy meets the villain, Ardonian, for the first time, there’s a pause in the film. While this is supposedly done to give Ardonian time to study Soong’s facial features, it foreshadows a more sinister desire...

Inevitably, Ardonian betrays Soong and her Chinese government employers. Now what is he going to do with the Dragon Lady? Will he shoot her, gut her, feed her to piranhas? Nope. Soong’s demise is highly original: Ardonian freezes her in a cryogenic tube.

I know what you’re thinking: Soong’s not really dead. However, she is not breathing, not moving and not even thinking! Being in a state of suspended animation is the closest thing to death there is without actually dying. And with her perfectly preserved body on display for everyone to see, Soong has become a work of art -- and a beautiful demise!

I know that there might be other beautiful demises out there. Please comment if you can. I look forward to reading about other examples!

Song List April 2009

2009-04-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

What I've been listening to this month:

1. Sing The Changes - Paul McCartney/Fireman

2. You Sexy Thing - Tom Tom Club

3. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister

I've only been listening to the last song because of a recent episode of "Chuck," but it's a really cool sequence:

Sarah has moves, but who knew Chuck did as well?

Here’s The Pitch… And There It Goes!

2009-04-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

“Pretty Vacant is about how mad scientists make money to fund their evil experiments.”

I was asked by an entertainment company a couple years ago to pitch a high-tech, damsel-in-distress thriller in a single sentence. The above sentence was my response. They thought about it for an eternity (estimated time: ten seconds), and then someone said, “Tell us more.”

It was then that I knew I passed their initial test: I didn’t bore them!

I proceeded to tell my story idea of the Still Life Corporation kidnapping pretty ladies as “body molds” for their mannequin lines and how the protagonist Gigi fights back wearing nothing but a skin-tight bikini and despite having only a baseball as a weapon. However, it seemed anticlimactic. I already knew they liked it.

They didn’t like it enough to green light it (too expensive to film, I was told), but I like Pretty Vacant enough to try and publish it as a comic book. My friends like it enough to try to have PV printed in time for Comic-Con in San Diego. And all of this happened because I was able to sum up PV in one simple sentence!

Gigi takes charge!

That’s how Pretty Vacant started!