Thursday, July 30, 2009

Vote! Pretty Please!

We have a problem.

The problem is that Wayfarer's Moon is not in the Top Ten on Top Web Comics. This makes me sad.

The solution is for all of you, our intelligent, attractive, readers, to vote for us. It's really quite simple, as all you need to do is press the Vote button on the right side of the comic.

It looks like this:


Once you press the button, you will need to press one more, corresponding to the choice presented. It should take about five seconds.

Ideally, we'll get more votes and will move down the rankings, thus attracting more readers and more votes. Eventually, we will hit #1. This, of course, is the first stage in our plan for world domination.

NOTE: I haven't actually thought far enough ahead to actually figure out the rest of the stages, though I'm pretty sure one of them will involve me in a hot tub with Super Models.

So, pretty please vote for us. Rather than just navigate away, just click on the button and do the next step. It's quick, it's easy, and it's fun.

If you don't, I may cry. This is not a pleasant sight, just ask Leigh.

In other news, I will be updating Art the Wanderer on Monday. In other, other news, it's freakin' hot up here. In other, other, other news, I like cheese.

I'll stop now.

Cheers,
-Jason

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Attendees Will Be Shot

During our time at Comic-Con, a daily ritual arose. We began to refer to it as 'the morning threat.'

Basically, there were a stock set of announcements the staff would make each morning. Among the announcements were gems like 'Exhibitors, please keep the aisles clear' and 'Please do not run in the aisles.' They were almost always delivered by a very calm, almost expressionless male voice. These announcements were obviously for our benefit, but the straight forward manner they were delivered in was kinda fun.

Pretty quickly, the group of us in my immediate area began to make up our own announcements. It began with adding 'or you will be shot' to everything and quickly evolved into making up our own announcements.

NOTE: I should actually compliment the people that did the announcements. They were very professional about the whole thing. If I had been allowed anywhere near the microphone, I would have promptly threatened to have people executed.

So, it occurred to me that I should share with you all some of the gems that came out of Row L in the Small Press area. For best effect, say them evenly, with as little emotion as possible (and enunciate, dammit!).

1. All Exhibitor children are required to be chained to their parent’s booths at all times. Unattended children will be harvested for their organs.
2. C'thulhu fhtagn!
3. Oh god. The pain. The pain (delivered as flatly as possible).
4. Attendees please do not touch the Exhibitors. You don’t know where they’ve been.
5. Open the Exhibit hall doors, Hal.
6. What is this thing you humans call deodorant?
7. Attention in the Exhibit Hall. A quarter was dropped in Artist’s Alley. If found, please give it to the nearest staff member. Thank you.
8. Attention to the Exhibitor in Booth 318. Those shorts do not go with that shirt. Thank you.
9. Humus.
10. The cake is a lie. The pie is real. Do not inquire about the flan.

Cheers,
-Jason

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

San Diego Comic Con: Wrap-Up!

We survived!

Everything went smoothly and despite the elevators in our hotel shutting down for an hour as we were leaving (seriously), everything went fine. We sold well and got a lot of positive comments, talked to a lot of friends, as well as made some new ones.

Leigh did not win the Russ Manning Award, but it was an honor just to be nominated. We did get VIP seats at the Eisners, though, and were in a sea of comic greats (like Mike Mignola, Bill Willingham, Neil Gaiman, and many others), so that was worth the price of admission, so to speak. Congratulations to Eleanor Davis on winning the Russ Manning! She's a fine artist and more than worthy to win.

We spent a lot of time hanging out with Beth and Maria from Famine Lands, who've been our 'con buddies' for a couple years now. We met a great artist by the name of Mitch Foust, who was happy to offer a ton of advice. We were also pleasantly surprised to see Roger Plemons, a friend and artist we met at Emerald City there as well.

Next to us was Manuel Rios Sarabia who writes and draws The Fearless Zombie Hunters, a fun comic about a luchador who fights zombies. On our left, was Kevin McShane, who not only does a dead-on Stan Lee, but also draws and writes Toupydoops (yes, you read that right). It's kinda like if Swingers met Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Seriously. Further to our left were the guys from Pirate Cove, a cool webcomic about potty humor (literally). Across from us was Jon Vinson from Edge of the Unknown, a gripping mystery comic about Harry Houdini. Also across from us was David McAdoo from Red Moon, which chronicles the adventures of two dogs who are out to save the world.

I did actually buy a camera and take a bunch of photos, but I need to spend some time reducing their size and otherwise messing with them before they're ready to show. I'll be putting them up on our Facebook page once I get that done (and we might even update the page!).

Anyway, things went well. We met some cool people, saw some neat costumes, Leigh did some sketches, I wrote a few sentences (and a paragraph!). We walked a lot, ate a lot, and talked a ton.

We'll definately go back next year.

Cheers,
-Jason

Monday, July 27, 2009

Dance!

Well, we made it back from Comic-Con! Everything went well, though Leigh and I are dead tired.

Sadly, Leigh did not win the Russ Manning Award he was nominated for. I would, however, like to congratulate Eleanor Davis, a very fine artist, for her win. Leigh was honored just to be nominated and we got VIP seats for the Eisners, meaning we got to sit in the middle of a veritable sea of comic greats (who, coincidentally, have now all heard of Wayfarer's Moon!).

I did get a bunch of costume photos from the con, which I'll be posting on our Facebook account later (and which I will link to) as well as write up a full report on the goings on for your amusement.

In the meantime, check this out:


A truly amazing piece.

Cheers,
-Jason

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A Brief Vacation

Hey all!

With Comic-Con coming up, I'm extremely busy at work getting some projects done before I take off. With that in mind, I won't be updating the blog until after Comic-Con, though I will be updating Art the Wanderer next Monday (but probably not the Monday after that, not sure yet).

Leigh will be doing sketches at the con and I will be giving away free sentences as usual (I've got a couple good ones lined up). We will be at booth L11, so please come by and say 'hi' or 'I love you' or 'here's a free $50k' as you see fit.

Cheers,
-Jason

Monday, July 13, 2009

My Next Computer

I think I found the perfect computer for me. It's a laptop, has a lot of power and is plenty durable, not to mention easy to travel with.

Wait, here's a video . . .


A very cool little transformation sequence :) Now if it only had lasers . . .

Cheers,
-Jason

Thursday, July 9, 2009

C-Day Minus 14

So, in exactly two-weeks, Leigh and I will be in San Diego for Comic-Con!

Once there, we will find out if Leigh has won the Russ Manning Award (which I'm sure he will) and we will be awash in fans, super-models, and gorgeous actresses who just want to be near us.

Actually, they might wander by the booth, but that's okay too. Not preferable, but still okay :)

We are pretty much ready. Our book orders have come in, we picked up extra deoderant, and I will probably get a haircut before the trip down.

Remember, we're Table L11 and we're hoping to see some of our fans there!

Cheers,
-Jason

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Furbomb the Wonder Cat

A co-worker walked up to me the other day and said, and I quote “What’s the deal with Krypto the Superdog?”

“He’s a dog from Krypton that has all the powers of Superman,” I replied.

“Huh,” said my co-worker after a moment’s reflection. “That’s kind of stupid.”

“Yeah,” I said. “But not as bad as Bat-Dog.”

“True,” and then he wandered away.

NOTE: This sort of conversation is in no way strange at my work. What was odd was that nobody chimed in with their opinion. We once had a twenty-minute discussion among six people about whether or not a vampire could be turned into a zombie. Most of us said ‘no,’ save for one guy who insisted it was possible. This conversation included two leads and a member of upper-management.

Anyway, this brings me to today’s topic: Why are there no super cats? There’s Krypto the Wonder Dog, Bat-Dog, Wonder Dog, and Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (no, not making that up). Mister Talky Tawny doesn’t count (being a phooka). I’m sure I’m missing tons of super animals, but this is all my brain could dredge up.

NOTE: Catwoman has probably had a number of exceptional cats. I’m thinking more along the lines of animals with super powers. Granted, Bat-Dog doesn’t have any, but neither does Batman. And no, I don’t want to have an argument about whether or not the Batman is a Super Hero or a Hero.

So, yeah. No cats with super powers. Frankly, this smacks of species-ism. Cats, as many people will argue, are just as loyal, loving, and intelligent as dogs, if not more so. This is why I have decided to create the world’s first super cat: Furbomb the Wonder Cat.

Owned by a kindly, but forgetful little old lady, Furbomb gained his powers after eating a magical canary that had been the pet of famed wizard Dumbl- errrr Merlin. Yeah, Merlin. Furbomb gained super strength, invulnerability, a yowl that can crack concrete, and the ability to shed explosively, hence the name.

Now a super hero, Furbomb spends his days decimating the populations of small mammals and birds (and the occasional small plane or car) within a tri-state area, sharpening his claws on anything he wants to, napping on something warm (nuclear reactors, house fires, volcanoes), and getting his tummy rubbed by his owner.

Actually, scratch that (no pun intended). A super cat would be a really bad idea.

Cheers,
-Jason

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A Fateful Decision

I had to make a terrible, horrible decision the other day. It was about my laundry.
As a preface, I am something of a pack-rat. I save things. Lots of things. I have a 10-pound box of dead batteries because (and I am perfectly serious), they might one day be useful.

Don’t laugh. When aliens invade and their only weakness is a flail made out of dead D-Cells and a ski pole, I will be the one saving the super models.

NOTE: I also have a four-pound ball of tape, a collection of nuts and bolts from various pieces of machinery, my old BB gun that no longer fires, a variety of sports equipment from sports I never played, a saddle, a gross of ping-pong balls from the early ‘80s, a woman’s bowling ball, and an Atari 2600 and about 30-games.

What was I talking about? Oh yes . . .

My laundry.

As I was folding it, I realized that a large percentage of my socks, maybe as high as 40%, had serious holes in them. As in ‘if I’m not careful when I put them on, my foot will actually go through instead of in.’

A decision had to be made. I could save them. I could simply stuff them in the back of my (overflowing, go figure) chest of drawers and forget about them until such time as they were needed to repel the armada from Perseii Omicrom 8.
I could also simply throw them away.

This is not such an easy decision. Some of these socks have been with me since college. They gallantly cushioned my feet when I worked at various part-time jobs. They courageously kept my feet from sweating in the hot California sun and making me smell even worse. They nobly complimented my tennis shoes with their start whiteness. I could not simply discard them like so much trash.

In the end, I threw away some of them, those who were too badly wounded to keep going. I deposited them gently into the garbage can and hummed the bits of ‘taps’ that I could remember. I may have said something moving, something about ‘how their spirit lived on, even as their elastic failed.’ A single tear might have been shed.
The others, the ones that weren’t too far gone, went into a box in the spare room.

Just in case.

Cheers,
-Jason

Monday, July 6, 2009

A WoW Commercial

This was brought to my attention the other day and I thought it was fairly cool, so I figured I would pass it on.



Just the fact that they're fighting in a supermarket and none of the other shoppers appears to notice amuses me to no end. Remember when you were a kid and your mother told you not to stare at some weirdo at the store?

"Mommy? Why is the purple lady fighting the green man?"

"Don't stare! They might notice!"

Cheers,
-Jason

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

July 4th Weekend!

Well, I was planning on saying something pithy about the upcoming 4th of July weekend, but I really don't do 'pithy' well. I'm reasonably good at 'wry' and 'kinda dumb,' but not 'pithy.'

Anyway, I'd just like to take this moment to wish everyone a fun 4th of July and to remind everyone to please be safe. Firecrackers do not belong in any orifice, no matter how fun and/or amusing it may seem at the time. As someone who once shot himself in the nostril with a bottle rocket, I speak from experience.

NOTE: I was ten and it more or less bounced off and exploded harmlessly about 20-feet away. Many people were amused by the incident, but dared not say anything because my mother would have murdered them.

So yes, please be safe.

Have a great 4th!

Cheers,
-Jason