FYI: Just updated Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Blogger with a single click using Ping.fm. Worth looking into.

2009

Ok, 2008 kinda blew too. 2009 is The Year of High Adventure. Hope everyone is well.

So I've been a bit crap...

Yeah. I really need to update this more.

I'll post later this week, I promise. Hell, I cant let Beranek have the last word.

2008

Face it: 2007 kinda blew. Something about that little year reeked. That being said, there is a lot of promise for the future. So... what are my fellow Creator Direct bloggers hopeful for this year?

I'll start it off... I'll be glad when the WGA Strike is over with so I can get back to work on my screenplays -- but I will admit it's a good time to be in comics. Lots of great job opportunities have popped up. In addition, I think the stories that are being told right now are the best that we've ever seen. The medium is thriving, creatively at least. Now we just gotta get the readers to notice.

Ok, who's next?

Punks page!

Here's a peek at the new Punks book coming up in a few weeks (hopefully before Christmas), :D

If you haven't already pre-ordered the book, please print this graphic and drop it at your local comic shop. Support the cause and what have you.

MORE POPGUN!!!

When was the last time I posted here? I'm not sure, but hey someone beat me to the PopGun pimping. So let me just add that you should check it out because current Criminal Macabre artist Nick Stakal and I collaborated on our submission to the anthology, here's a sneak peak! - CHUCK BB

POPGUN!

Image Comics' PopGun Anthology, featuring tons of insanely talented comic folks (and me) hits stands tomorrow. Check it out, peeps. It is indeed the ultimate comics mixtape.

I've got a seven page story in it called They Shoot Ponies...Don't They? written by Mark Sable (Image Comics' Grounded).

Hit the links below for tons of previews, interviews and ordering info.

PopGun Official Page.
PopGun Ordering Info.
PopGun on CBR.
PopGun on CBR. Again.
PopGun on IGN.
PopGun on MySpace.
PopGun on Newsarama.
PopGun meets Newsarama: The Revenge.

Time for Dexter

COMIC CREATORS TAKE A SLICE OUT OF ‘DEXTER’

And TV show prop will benefit The Hero Initiative

Los Angeles, CA (Oct 27th, 2007) -- The hit Showtime TV series DEXTER has started its second season at full speed, but this Sunday, the show adds a comic touch. The October 28 episode titled “The Dark Defender” will feature cameo appearances by comic writer Dan Wickline (30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease) and comic artist Tone Rodriguez (The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror)…and one of them doesn’t make it through alive.

The idea of adding these two creative friends was the brainchild of series writer Tim Schlattman, who’s witnessed Dan and Tone’s acidic yet friendly banter first hand. Tim pitched an episode with characters loosely based on the two, and when his concept was green-lit, then suggested using the actual men who inspired the idea. Wickline and Rodriguez will play…you guessed it…two comic creators.

“I’m glad they asked us, and it was a great experience,” said Tone Rodriguez. “I’m sure if they want us back, at least the one that lives, we’d be happy to return.”

Dan Wickline also enjoyed his experience, and had an interesting time with “Dexter” actor Michael C. Hall: “He was joking around with production assistants, and just seemed like a great guy to hang out with,” Wickline said. “Then on the set, he goes from ‘Friendly Dexter’ to ‘Killer Dexter’ with just a look…and I felt just a touch scared.”

Besides the cameos, Tone Rodriguez also provided art that will be featured prominently in the episode.

And YOU can bring home a little of the Dexter experience as well. One of the Wickline/Rodriguez characters dies in the episode, and without saying who (you can find out for yourself this Sunday), you can own one of their last personal effects. A bloody shirt (not real blood, just prop blood, we promise!) worm by the “victim” is being auctioned off via eBay.com with proceeds benefiting The Hero Initiative, the charity that helps older comic creators in medical or financial need. The shirt will be autographed by both Dan Wickline and Tone Rodriguez and is available for auction at:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZheroinitiative

“Dexter: The Dark Defender” will debut Sunday, October 28th on Showtime.

Willow Creek

Denny Williams and I are co-writing a new 5-issue mini series from Zenescope called Willow Creek. The book will feature art by Josh Medors, a good friend of mine. The first issue will be out in January. A #0 issue is floating around and will probably be online soon.

To say I'm excited is an understatement, as the story delves into themes that have interested me for years. We'll be focusing on Native American lore in relation to the Bigfoot myth. What lies under the surface of this legend is much darker than the town people of Willow Creek realize...

Punks is on the shelf, and a new story is in the works.

Pick up a copy today! If for some reason your shop can't get it, we'll be launching the Punks store in the next couple of days, soon as I can scrape up a few extra hours to finish it up.

In the meantime, pop over to the Punks message board and check out some interviews and reviews of the book.

WizardWorld Chicago

I'll be set up in Artists Alley table # 5514. Drop by and say hi! I'll be doing commissions, sketches, signing books, etc. Word on the street is I'll have a few copies of Punks to show off, but can't sell them since I'll only have a few. But I will have tons of original art and hopefully some new sketchbooks. Trying to steal some time today to get those done.

RobGuillory.com

New site, kids! Check it out here!

Excelsior!
(Damn...there are a lotta exclamation points in this post.)

San Diego schedule for Kirby

No booth this year for me. Hoping to do the networking thing.

I will be signing at the Devil's Due booth # 2415 (across from Diamond). I got the early shift this year.

Thursday from 10AM to Noon
Friday from 10AM to Noon
Saturday from 9AM to Noon.

Come by and say hey and buy some Lost Squad comics.

Retailers speak out about cover variants.

ComicsPRO, the direct market’s retailer trade and advocacy group, has released its first official position paper, detailing the group’s desire for positive changes with the solicitation and use of variant covers on comic books.

The opinion paper, which was vetted by ComicsPRO’s position paper committee and then voted on by retailer members, passed with a resounding 90% majority.

"Given the diverse stores, expectations, needs of the individual stores involved, and the overwhelming vote in favor of this position paper, I think it is pretty clear this is an important topic our suppliers should pay close attention to," said Brian Hibbs, owner of San Francisco’s Comix Experience, and chair of the ComicsPRO’s position paper committee.

Carr D’Angelo, owner of Earth-2 Comics in Sherman Oaks CA added "Every retailer deals with variant covers in very individual ways. This position paper passed because it asks publishers to operate in a way that allows each retailer to make the choices best for their stores. Divergent points of view came together in one voice and that's what ComicsPRO is all about."

ComicsPRO is comprised of more than 90 member retailers with more than 130 store-fronts in 30 different states. In addition to advocacy, ComicsPRO goals include encouraging the growth of the comics specialty market and reducing the common costs all retailers incur. More information can be found at ComicsPRO.org.

The complete text of the ComicsPRO official position regarding variant covers follows.

Issue Presented:

Publishers frequently attempt to boost circulation of their comics and graphic novels by printing multiple cover images. While recognizing that multiple covers can be an effective short-term sales boost for publishers and retailers alike, retailers are negatively affected by multiple covers in some circumstances. Since the cover of a comic book or graphic novel is a key sales point, a printing may have very different sell-through rates depending upon the cover image. In many cases, one cover image will remain available for sale at retail while another has sold out. In the current methodology of reordering, retailers are unable to order a single specific cover without ordering superfluous stock because of a 50/50, 3-to-1, or other sales ratio. The current system of offering variant covers without providing a unique identifier for each cover has the propensity to artificially inflate sales numbers of a title while failing to reflect the true sell-through of the given title.

Using variant covers for first printings vs reprints:

ComicsPRO maintains that variant covers of the first printing of products are acceptable so long as each cover offered may be ordered and reordered separately. Implementation of this policy will ensure that retailers can efficiently allocate resources to restock popular cover images without ordering copies of less popular covers. Efficiency inherently leads to a stronger, more competitive and sustainable marketplace.

Offering variant covers of fixed ratio:

ComicsPRO prefers that variant covers be solicited as separate line items to be ordered in any ratio the retailer desires. A cover solicited as a 50/50 split should instead be offered as two separate items. Variants offered on a short-printed cover basis (such as a 1:4 variant) should be solicited on a separate line item even though ordering is dependent on a qualifying order.

The concept of equal ratio offerings should be replaced with split offerings. Unequal ratio offerings should be treated as incentives. This will serve to more accurately reflect the true salability of a title and increase industry efficiency.

Variant covers offered free of charge as purchase incentives should always be listed as separate order line items. These items should also be invoiced independently.

Variant covers and barcodes:

ComicsPRO maintains that each cover of a comic book or trade paperback should be identified with its own unique barcode. The proliferation of point of sale systems within the industry has created a reliance on accurate and complete barcodes for each item. Unique barcodes for each cover allow precise tracking of sales and promotes the accurate calculation of historical sell-through values.

Conclusion:

Variant covers can be a valuable strategy to increase short-term profits, but should be implemented in a manner that augments industry efficiency while not increasing publisher revenue at the expense of retailer cash flow. ComicsPRO members prefer to order all products as individual line items. Allowing orders for each cover as a unique line item will enhance our ability to operate effectively and profitably while providing publishers with clear and concise orders for publications that have more than one cover.

Request for Action:

ComicsPRO requests that all publishers offer all variants, limited or otherwise, as separate line item codes in accordance with the foregoing descriptions. This would include any comic, graphic novel, or trade paperback offered with multiple covers regardless of the ratio of publishing or subsequent printings. ComicsPRO also maintains that each cover be issued with a unique barcode.

Kody's pre-convention update!

First off, big news from Hollywood last week (Variety):

 Paramount Pictures has preemptively purchased the film rights to Boom Studios' upcoming comicbook "The Foundation." Andrew Cosby and Ross Richie, founders and owners of Boom, are producing the adaptation for Par. Boom publishes comicbooks and graphic novels.

"Foundation," a five-issue miniseries created by Kody Chamberlain, revolves around efforts to stop the unpublished prophecies of Nostradamus from coming to pass.

Boom title is the third to which Cosby and Richie have sold the film rights; rights to "Talent" and "Tag" went to Universal. Boom was launched 18 months ago.

Cosby also co-created the series "Eureka" on the Sci Fi Channel.

Second, Punks is done and off to the printer. Fingers crossed, I should have books with me in Chicago. If not, I'll make sure I work up an ashcan or something. But so far it's looking good. Here's a peek at the limited edition cover variant. Josh and I are already talking about doing a Christmas special, no concrete plans yet, just talk. I'll post an update on that once we figure it out. We do have some extra copies of the book coming for all the slackers out there that didn't pre-order, but quantities are limited and it's a pain in the butt to ship this stuff out. But we'll throw a few up on the Punks website when they show up.

Third, I completed a Beowulf graphic novel adaptation for Harper Collins and it's looking like a September release. The story was adapted by the lovely and talented Stephen Petrucha. The project was colored by Scott Keating and lettered by Kel Nuttall.

Fourth, been chipping away at a 1930's crime comic with writer Clark Westerman called Pretty, Baby, Machine. I do believe we'll have a few preview copies on hand in San Diego, but since I won't have an actual table, keep an eye out for the Hard-Boiled Comics table in the Comic-Con program guide.

Fifth, wrapping up the first issue of a new Spacedog book called Wight and Associates written by Rob Levin. Some tweaks to make to the first issue, and coloring is in progress. I'm hoping to get started on the second book next week. Here's a peek at one of the pages from that first issue.

As for San Diego, I don't have a table or a booth this year, so I'll be floating around a few different places. Look for me at the BOOM! Studios booth, and possibly at the Hard-Boiled Comics booth. If all goes well, I'll be set up with a full booth next year and avoid the royal pain in the ass of getting into Artists Alley and dealing with the red tape and politics of the whole thing.

I will be in Chicago for the Wizard Con, and I do have a table in Artists Alley. I'll be packing as much new content as I can, but please shoot mean email if you want a specific original art page or some of my older work. I'm probably going to pack light.

CreizzleDirizzle.com

Check it.

Troy's Update

I'm such a techno-tard that I don't even know how to scale pictures and include them in my posts. How 'bout dem apples?

Man, I am so unbelievably proud of the growth and achievements being made by my fellow creator direct'ers. Any of you cats and kittens read the collected edition of Josh's ELK'S RUN? You should--it's a refreshingly original piece of work.

And how about the upcoming PUNKS: SUMMER SPECIAL by Josh and Kody? The variant cover to that book is so hilarious I'd post it up for you right now. But life is like a box of chocolates, and I'm lucky I can even remember how to log on to blogger.

And I'm 24-years old. I know 50-year olds that design websites. Damn that computer age for slipping slipping through my fingers.

As for me, the BLOODRAYNE comics have been coming out pretty regularly. Just a couple weeks from now, on July 11th, the first issue of the new mini-series RED BLOOD RUN will hit the stands. I'm currently writing a spin-off one-shot for an original character to be introduced in the next mini series titled AYANO: SAMURAI IMMORTAL.

It's funny--I've been writing women for so long now that it's actually somewhat difficult for me to get back into writing the male voice. I'm writing a new creator-owned comic in my spare time called AUGUST HOLIDAY: SUPER CRIMINAL TO THE STARS, and I keep wanting to write him from a female perspective.

I need to go funnel some beer, bust some donuts in a fast car and murder some poor fuzzy animal. Get that machismo flowing properly.

Ha.

Impaler Nominated for IHG Award

This certainly made my day: Impaler has been nominated for the International Horror Guild Award in the Best Illustrated Narrative category. The winners will be announced November 1 at the World Fantasy Convention. Pretty sweet if I say so myself.

If you'd like to know more about the IHG, head over to the official site.

POSTCARDS Delayed and Other Great News

Three weeks. July 17th is the new release date.

This is great news for the book, obviously. You see - now we're going head-to-head with Harry Potter. This way, when Postcards gets crowned the number one book of the year, none of you nay-sayers can say things like, "Oh! But Postcards had a three week head start!"

We're starting at the same time. No handicap. J.K. must be quaking in her muggle boots. People are going to be showing up for their Harry Potter midnight launch party to see the Postcards display and say, "Oh! Postcards came out? I only have twenty bucks on me...next time, Harry, I promise."

It will be a glorious victory. One talked about for many years to come.

Ok, seriously. If anyone can provide me with proof that they went into their bookstore during a Harry Potter Midnight Launch Party and asked for/buys Postcards, I'll make sure that one of my creators gets a sketch postcard mailed out to you or we get you a signed book or something. You can still buy Harry Potter, but if your receipt says Postcards or if you go ahead and make a little film of yourself raising a ruckus because your bookstore doesn't have any Postcards for its Postcards Midnight Launch Party, I will find a way to get something cool to you.

Promise.

Please spread the word, too. I think this could be fun…

PUNKS interview on Newsarama!

Newsarama posted a recent interview with me and Josh about Punks. Some great info about the history of the project. Give it a read!