Being inclusive as a nerd

There is a war going on and we don't even know it. How is that for a first line? The war I am talking about it between the nerds and the so called "fake nerds." It is being fought on the interwebs, on message boards, social media sites, and blogs. Since when have nerds complained about having people that are attractive coming into our fold? Why would somebody who is attractive want to face the life of a geek if they did not want to? A lot of my life had been faced with ridicule and socially awkward situations that come from being a geek, or nerd, or whatever the term is these days. People admit to liking gaming or comics because they like them, not because they think it will make them cool. It is quite the opposite. So to call them posers is ridiculous. What do they have to gain? Being a nerd who has been excluded from most things in their life, we of all people should be the ones saying come on in, the water’s fine. I know we have been hurt, we know the derisive looks that people give us and the patronizing, “Oh you read comic books.” So our first instinct is to want to lash out at the beautiful people, and say “Hey you can’t be a member of our club.” But we need to get over that. We of all people should be accepting of anyone, because we know what it is like to not be accepted by pretty much anyone.

I know a lot of us are socially awkward and have problems having conversations with other people. We would much rather be left alone to read comics or do some gaming. I know for me years of ridicule and loneliness have gotten me kind of jaded on the whole people thing, and sometimes the old high school insecurities come out when I least want them to, and I am 41. I know what it is like not have many friends. I had one friend through elementary school, through junior high. Before starting high school my parents moved and I started a whole new high school not knowing anyone. I really don’t remember many of the people that I went to high school with. I had more friends when I started working than I ever had at school. But I got through it. I still only have maybe one friend that I hang out with on a regular basis. I am not sure why. Maybe I don’t try hard enough to meet new people. Maybe it is still that feeling that I am not good enough. Anyway the point of this is that I know exclusion and I have promised myself not to exclude other people, because I would never want them to feel like I did. We of the nerd community need to be accepting of all comers, no matter what they look like or what their geek cred is. Come on in. The water’s fine

So you want a career in comics?

     You may want to consider a different career. It is not for people that simply want to dabble in it or want to get into it on a whim. It takes some serious sacrifice, balancing life, and most times another career, with trying to do something that they truly love. They are not getting rich at it by any means, and are into it for the love of the medium. Since joining Twitter I have had the fortune of getting to know several of these people who love comics, and are taking their careers into their own hands. I get kind of a chance to see behind the curtain so to speak, and see the hard work that goes into making the comics that arrive in your hot little hands at the local comic shop.

     Two such people are writer Brian Apodaca and Artist Benny Jordan, the creative team behind the comic Zombie Outlaw. You may recall that I reviewed issue number one on this blog back in October of last week. Well the intrepid creative team is getting ready to release issue number two of the series and came out with an Ashcan issue with a preview of issue number two. The Ashcan picks up from the end of issue number one with the kids from Irvine State University having just met the Zombie Outlaw himself and coming out on the losing side. The art is still the cartoony style of issue one, but the panels are more well organized and the flow is better than the first issue. This shows a growth by Benny and his art style. The back cover of the Ashcan also features are really nice looking alternate cover of issue number two by Mark Alvarado. Here it is here.

     I had the opportunity to aske Brian and Benny some questions about the delay between issues one and two, and also what they had been up to in the mean time. It turns out that there were some major life changes for both of them, and more on the way. They have also been busy on the convention scene trying to get word out about Zombie Outlaw. Here is the interview. Thanks to both of them for their time.

Hey guys,
Thanks for sending me the Ashcan and cards. I figured I would ask some questions. 

Brian: Thanks for taking the time to ask us some questions, Brett.    I'm not sure if Benny e-mailed you back, but I'll try best to give the answers that I feel are valid. 

Geeki Happenings: So it will be almost a year between issues one and two. I know there have been additions to the family and life issues. Have you been working on other things in the meantime? 

Brian: In the past year, Benny has gotten married and had a daughter.   I have worked a lot of hours, not as many as my fiance, but quite a bit, and traveled to Cancun for a Wedding.    Also,  I just mentioned my fiance, so - yes - I also got engaged.   I'm currently working on getting a block of rooms at a Hampton Inn in Paso Robles.   So if anyone knows anyone, give me a holler!   But yeah, we've both been quite busy.   The main thing, though, is we're doing this currently for the love of comics - and we would, of course like that to evolve into getting paid for it - at which point the issues will come flying at you FAST and FURIOUS!

Benny: I have done one other comic between issue 1 of Zombie Outlaw and this next issue. It was a comic for Scattered Comics Studios called Shadow Hunters. It was a completely different style for me. A bit more Anime as opposed to the cartoony style of Z.O. I am currently doing concepts for the next issue of that in between my work on Zombie Outlaw and adjusting to life with my new daughter.

Geek Happenings: When issue number two comes out, are you guys going to be getting on a more normal distribution schedule?
 

Brian: If issue #2 is a HUGE success, rocketing us to comics' superstardom, then issue #3 will come out shortly thereafter.   If not, it will be another year or two before issue #3 hits.  

Hopefully, the first scenario will play out!  :)

Benny:  Regarding a more normal distribution schedule...well, as I said, I have a new child in my life now, so nothing is normal at the moment. Though I am going to try.

Geek Happenings: I saw that you guys did the Comikaze Expo last year. How was that experience?  Any plans on doing more cons this year?

Brian: We enjoyed immensely the Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles this past year!  It was the FIRST EVER Comikaze Expo, and we really enjoyed being a part of it.  I spent the better part of a year hyping the Comikaze Expo on twitter preceding the actual event, so it was gratifying for me personally to experience it and to realize that I was correct in supporting it.   Regina Carpinelli, the CEO of Comikaze Expo, is a true professional, and her whole staff was nothing but helpful!   We really hope to be there next year, with the 2nd issue of ZOMBIE OUTLAW hot off the presses and ready to share with the public.    Maybe we can even do a panel!    Anyone interested in the Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles should check out their website,http://www.comikazeexpo.com !and follow them on Twitter:  @ComikazeExpo       Very cool people!

We just did the LA Zinefest on February 19th, and that was a blast!    We had a booth alongside Sean Stepanoff, who puts out GRISTLE magazine, among other books!

He's a very talented creator, whom we hope to see at future venues.    Check out his stuff on etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GristlePublications

Finally, we'll be at the Wonder-Con in Anaheim, and that's coming up in March!   We're looking forward to that.  

Anyone interested in attending should check out the Comic-Con website, http://www.comic-con.org  

Benny: Yes, Comikaze was great. We did a lot better than had anticipated. It was a lot of fun and we made some great contacts. We will be at Wondercon this year as it is being held in Anaheim, literally a couple blocks away from my home. And as to any other conventions, Brian is the one who sets those up. He just tells me where to be. It works out well for me that way. I don't have to concentrate on anything but the art.

Geek Happenings: I see that the cartoony art style is still in effect for issue number two. As I mentioned in the review of issue number one it is definitely a lot different feel than more serious zombie comics such as the walking dead. It is almost like an all ages zombie comic. Was this something that you guys had planned or did it just come out that way?
 

Brian: I don't think we really heavily planned it as an all-ages book, and there are definitely some things in there that most kids will not probably understand or appreciate, either for generational reasons, or perhaps because the humor level is not up the standards of some children.    To call some of our humor childish would be an insult to children!  It's a mixed bag, really, although I guess you could say the outlook or worldview is definitely child-like.    But there are certain totems and symbols or iconography sprinkled throughout the first two issues that people under 30 might have trouble appreciating.  

Benny: Yes the artwork is still very cartoony. I'm really not sure how we came to have it that way, so I suppose it just happened. And it works great with Brian's sense of humor. This issue has some slight differences from the last. I view the first issue of Zombie Outlaw as being out "pilot" issue. After many great reviews and critiques I decided to make some changes in the way some of the characters look. Not huge changes, but just enough that is flows better for me as the artist and hopefully for the reader. I'm also concentrating on better backgrounds and panel usage. The first issue was lacking in that department.

Geek Happenings: The cover for issue number two in the back of the ashcan is definitely a different style and feel. Who did it? Is that going to be an alternate cover, because on the cards it shows a cover by Benny. 

Brian: Benny's cover will be the OFFICIAL cover to the 2nd issue.   We have several amazing artists who've contributed alternate covers or pin-ups for issue #2.    Not sure at this point if we will use any of them for ALTERNATE or VARIANT covers, but most of the pin-ups we've received from the many talented artists who've done THEIR takes on our characters WILL be in a pin-up section at the back of issue #2!     Mark Alvarado, by the way, is the artist you're referring to at the back of the Ashcan/Preview for issue #2 which we premiered at Comikaze Expo a few months back.   Mark's a great artist, and has some projects of his own in the works, but yeah - his stuff is great and we were really happy to get him to do HIS version of our characters.    A very cool image!

Benny: Regarding the "alternate cover" on the back of the ashcan issue: I'm not quite shure if that will be used as a cover or not somewhere down the line. We decided to use a different piece for the cover of the ashcan so that when the second issue is actually released it will still feel "fresh". I put a lot of work into the second cover. we got some good responces for the first, but I, as the artist, feel it didn't have the impact that I really wanted. the second issue cover is something that I'm pretty proud of, and I hope others will be just as excited about it.

Here is Benny's cover for issue number two

 
Well thanks again for the time fellas. Feel free to include anything you want to be promoted or any appearances.

Check out Benny's page at Deviantart:    BPJILLUSTRATION.DAPORTFOLIO.COM/

Issue #1 of ZOMBIE OUTLAW is on sale at comixpress:    http://www.comixpress.com

Check out the main Zombie Outlaw website, as well as our facebook page!  

http://www.zombieoutlaw.com   AND   http://www.facebook.com/zombieoutlawcomic

Anyone interested in getting in touch with the writer, Brian, can find him on Twitter:   www.twitter.com/capn_midnight

Carbon Leaf CD and DVD review..

I know it has been a while, but I felt I needed to write something. So I have been watching Carbon Leaf's Live, Acoustic...And In Cinemascope. This is an Acoustic DVD and two CD set that they released last year. It was recorded in a studio that they recorded in called In Your Ear Studios. This is the most stripped down I have ever seen the band. It is just five guys on stools playing for a small intimate audience. With it being so stripped down you can really concentrate on the musicianship. Carter Gravatt, the bands lead guitarist trades in his guitar for a mandolin for most of the songs. He can play anything with strings. He is so good. He fills in the guitar parts with the mandolin and they totally make sense. Barry Privett the lead singer has never sounded better. With the advent of lip synching and studio effects, it is nice to hear his voice sounding like the CD with no enhancements. The songs cover their whole catalog which is great being able to hear their older songs that they don't bring out very often, such as November (Make Believe), and Attica's flowerbox window. The thing that really distinguishes this show from a normal Carbon Leaf show is the energy. Regular Carbon Leaf Shows are high energy affairs with plenty of dancing. This was much more laid back. Terry Clark the bands rhythm guitarist even mentioned that they were trading energy for staying in tune.

The tuning of the instruments lead to a lot of stories in between songs while the rest of the band was tuning their instruments. It really showed off the bands sense of humor and you get to learn about the inception of the songs. You get a lot more of this in the extras on the DVD which are great. The extras consist of outtakes of the band talking between the songs, as well as a Q&A from the audience. The extras also include two songs from an electric show that they played at the National in Virginia. I really would have liked to have seen more of that show. This is Just for the DVD. In the package is also a 2 CD set of the show. The sound quality is excellent. Here is a sample from the DVD. It is a song called Blue Ridge Laughing. Enjoy

Funeral Potatoes

I became aware of Kiri Callaghan through Twitter and a mutual acquaintance Blake Northcott when she did a Follow Friday. Her awesome bio hooked me. Through Kiri's Tweets I became aware that she was writing a one act play called Funeral Potatoes. You can buy the Kindle version here for .99 . I bought the play today and was blown away. The story is about two friends in their twenties Kismet and Vera. The story opens with Kismet and Vera sharing a normal shopping trip trying on clothes. This really establishes the relationship between the two friends. The character interplay and banter is done really well and you feel like you know the characters. The fun eventually turns to Kismets funeral, and what starts out as banter until the reality of the situation falls on them. The audience really finds out how bad Kismets situation is when she wakes up afer an episode with Vera having returned from a funeral. This is the scene where the Funeral Potatoes come in. My favorite scenes of the play are the ones told from the point of view of Kismets mind. This is where are the reflection comes in and she shows her fears and tries to come to grips with what is happening to her. One of the poignant parts of the scenes are the clock ticking in the background. You can almost feel the time running out.

The questions that Kismet asks herself are ones we can all identify with. Is there anything after we die? Did we do enough with our lives? Is this all there is? As someone who has their issues with death, I really identified with her. This book asks a lot of questions but does not answer many. That is left up to the audience. The characterization is great in the book, and we can only hope that we all have friend like Vera.

If you want to read more from Kiri she is currently working with Blake Northcott on a novelization of Luna a were-wolf themed TV pilot that is currently in development from creators John Ceallach, and Randy J. Goodwin of The Vampire Diaries.

You can also find her on Twitter @KiriCallaghan

Of Geek Girls, Sasquatch, and other myths...

Let me preface this with saying I am kind old, like 40 old. There has been a lot of talk lately about Geek Girls not getting their due, and comparing themselves to the mythical Unicorn. People have heard of girls that like Star Wars, comics, and playing D&D, but nobody has even seen them. The stories of them bounced around Geek Boys basements everywhere. Where geek boys got together with their friends and did some gaming, or watched some Science Fiction, there was talk about this fictional member of the opposite sex. Let me tell you I was one of those guys. When I grew up guys played with GI-Joe, girls played with Barbie. Girls looked down on Star Wars as boring, and playing D&D as lame. In my family there was not one female that hung out with the males in the family and our geeky pursuits.

Then fast forward to about 2004. This is when some guys at work talked me into playing World of Warcraft, the MMORPG. In this game I came across people from all walks of life, including females. This was totally new to me and the first inkling that something different was going on. As time went on, not only were females good at the game, they were guild and raid leaders. This would have been a place reserved for males just a few years before. Times they were a changing. Then a few years ago I joined Twitter and it opened up a whole new world to me. I went in knowing very few people. One of those people goes by the name of MsMarvelGirl on Twitter. She is a young graphic artist that is an avid Marvel comic reader. Through her, and probably because of my Twitter handle hulksmash02 I was introduced to a whole gaggle of Geek Girls.

One of the first was Felicia Day. I came across her name when someone recommended the Guild web series. Now she is a Goddess among Geek Girls. Geek Girls are out there. They not only read science fiction they write it. They are artists, actresses, web series writers and stars, they are big name celebrities. They also are not going away, nor should you as Geek Boys want them to. Now is a great time for you to meet someone with the same interests, that knows what a Tardis is, and can kick your ass at Halo. Ok maybe the last may not be that great, but you get my meaning. They are real and they are out there waiting for you to say hello. They are just as shy and awkward as you and it may take some time, but it will be totally worth it. Just treat them with respect, don't freak out, and don't immediately comment on their boobs. Here is just a list of just a few really cool and talented Geek Girls that you can follow on Twitter.



@ComicBookGrrl

@fightmaven

@ComixBookGurl

@Geekyjessica

@pattyjrobinson

@amy_geek

@slackerheroes

@amyokuda

@feliciaday

@MsMarvelGirl

You really can go home again...

I just finished reading The New Teen Titans Graphic Novel called Games. This book was over twenty years in the making and boy was it worth it. With the advent of the DCnU I never thought I would care about a comic again. Then I read this Graphic Novel. It is written by Marv Wolfman and George Perez the creators of the New Teen Titans. It was started over twenty years ago so there are some continuity differences in the story but it is written with characters that I grew up with and how I remember them being written. Starfire is an alien warrior with a heart of gold, not the vapid bimbo that she is in the new DCnU book that she is in. Cyborg is grown up and a hero already not some kid that has not even turned into Cyborg yet that they have in the DNnU. Donna Troy is in it in her Troia identity, Nightwing is the leader, and Changeling goes from comic relief to being the heart of the book.  Danny Chase, one of my least favorite Titans becomes really likeable in this story.

      I keep going back to the DCnU because they have stomped all over the characters that I love and reading this book has brought that into great clarity. This is how comics should be written and drawn. The art by George Perez is gorgeous throughout the book, and Marv Wolfman writes a compelling story that not everyone comes away unscathed from. I never thought I would see this Titans team drawn by George and written by Marv again unless it was in re-releases. I never thought I would see one last original story of my favorite characters by my favorite creators. I really hope they see the magic they have and do some more together.

     The story itself is a time capsule of the 90’s but does not seem dated at all. It has the Titans team and surrounding characters from the 90’s Titans. The story is high stakes. There is an enemy that has found out all of the Titans friends and relatives. To coin the phrase, people live, people die, and the Titans will never be the same. The characterization is spot on and something that nobody else has come close to on the Titans since. Since it was started 20 years ago It definitely stands as standalone comic outside regular continuity. The dust jacket on the novel reads: Discover who the power players truly are In New Teen Titans: Games, the long anticipated swan song for one of the most beloved superhero sagas of all time. I could not have said it better myself.

What do you get when you cross John Wayne with a Zombie?

You get Zombie Outlaw. The new independent comic series from series writer Brian J. Apodaca and artist B. Paul Jordan. If you need your Zombie fix and are tired of the heaviness that is The Walking Dead, then this is the comic for you. The art and writing are breezy and the writing is an easy read. This comic takes place at Irvine State University where in the past one zombie is not trying to kill everyone but save a city from other zombies. I have gathered from the interview with the creative team we will learn more about them in subsequent issues. The badness starts in 1872 and continues until now. The three main characters are Will Simers the brains of the group and also pretty good at the love game. You have Matt Naismith the geek who is socially awkward and turns to Will for some help with the female lead K.T. Delaney. I don't want to give away spoilers here but there are zombies and definitely a cliff hanger. The art reminds me of Popeye and Mike Wierengo's work. Over the top but it works for the book. The lead zombie is a cowboy hat wearing zombie with a thirst for blood that also uses a gun. as you can see from the pic below. 

Cover of issue #1

Our hero Zombie Outlaw

I got a chance to ask the creative team some questions. They were kind enough to answer.


Geek Happenings: Paul. You have a really unique art style. Who were your influences for your art? Also are the green creatures zombies also? Are we going to find out more about them in future issues?

Benny Jordan: First off, go ahead and call me Benny.

    The influences for my art were Skottie Young, Mike Wierengo, and Carlos Meglia. Although my style reflects nothing of those artists, I appreciated the cartoonish flare that they put into their illustrations.  Many comics these days seem to have the same serious feel and style, so they become a bit stagnant to me. I wanted this book to have a sort of Saturday morning cartoon feel, being somewhat nostalgic.

    The first issue, art-wise, was not my best work.  I was still at an experimental stage with the art.  Since then I've gone on to work on a comic title for Scattered Comics Studios with Jason Dube called Shadow Hunters.  I learned a lot while doing that book.  Though the two books are completely different in art styles, I've taken what I've learned, as well as taking into consideration all the great reviews and critiques for the first Zombie Outlaw book, and have applied it to the second issue of "ZO".  My style is still quite similar to the first issue but the characters flow a little smoother, my panel layout is considerably better, and my backgrounds are going to be more than just negative space. So, for those who have read the first issue, the characters in issue 2 will have some slight differences.  I look at the first issue as being somewhat of a pilot episode, realizing what changes need to be made and applying them to the next.




Geek Happenings: Brian, did you have an idea where the story was going to go, or how many issues you wanted to do? Did you have a planned end spot?


Brian Apodaca: Ben and I have an idea for where the story is going to go, but no set-in-stone endpoint.    We have the feeling of it being open-ended, like a sitcom or classic animated series, like Transformers or G.I. Joe, with a fair helping of the classic Apatow comedies
like Freaks and Geeks or Undeclared influencing the style as well.   There's definitely some Undeclared in there, and I'm a big fan of Freaks and Geeks as well, so that naturally bleeds into the college-based story. I think with the artwork, as Benny has said, there's a lot of animated cartoon influence - maybe not so specific, but more of a general nostalgia for old cartoons we enjoyed watching - not just Transformers and G.I. Joe, but even Thundercats, Silverhawks, and even the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon and the Dragonslayer video game.   We're also both fans of the Scott Pilgrim books and the film adaptation.
  
    The College setting is the main base of the story, but the second issue is in production at this point, and there's a trip to a nearby Tiki-Bar that is frequented by some of the college students that becomes important as the story goes on.
   
    The second issue will introduce several new characters, and flesh out one of the characters we only saw briefly at the end of Issue #1 - Scooter Donatelli.   
   
    As to your question about the green creatures:   Yes, they were Zombies!   And we will see more of them as time goes on. There will also be another flashback/storytelling sequence from the Western Occult History book, which will reveal more about the 1870s (original!) Zombie Outlaw, Edward Dransby.

If you want to learn more about the Zombie Outlaw movement there are plenty of ways to get in touch and give comments.

1) Zombie Outlaw Facebook Page:     http://www.facebook.com/zombieoutlawcomic

2) The "Zombie Outlaw" creative team will be appearing at the ComiKaze Expo on November 5th and 6th  http://www.comikazeexpo.com

3) There is a "Zombie Outlaw - OUTBREAK" Cosplay Event happening October 23rd -  (Facebook-accessible link)  -  https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=253199048057438


So get your Zombie on.