I Know Cool People - THE TROUBLE W/LOVE

I met writer Victor Dandridge years ago - at the first C2E2, if memory serves (other than frequent cries of "Sketch Battle!", I merely remember us hanging out at the Comic Related booth). So reconnecting with him at various other venues (including the most recent Dan Con) has been a sheer joy....and when I had the opportunity to purchase his graphic novel The Trouble w/Love , I did so gladly to support his writing efforts. Plus, it's what cool people do.

And I'm also very grateful I did so, because this book - available through Vantage:Inhouse Publications - is a real gem, mixing emotional complexity with some great superheroic action.

Most of the book focuses on a conversation between a superhero and his son....a very intense conversation, in fact, as the son is holding a gun on his father. It leads to a conversation about love, family, and the necessary sacrifices people have to make in order to protect the ones they care about. Most of the conflict in the issue is between the father and son....and the writing never hits a false note. Simple and poignant, the book's tone is very heartfelt, possessing an emotional core which is lacking in other comics. (Note - there is plenty of profanity, but used judiciously. If you don't mind characters dropping the occasional F-bomb, you'll be OK).

Thanks to Harold Edge's art, this is also a really great looking story as well. Moving between flashback and flash-forward, Edge is able to connote the passage of time and experience without relying solely on visuals (so it's more than just "current Apex Prime has a mustache/past Apex Prime doesn't"). There's a nice sense of pacing in this book, and there's a nice sense of layout. Thanks to Ryan Carter's coloring, The Trouble with Love always feels grounded in reality - it's a story where emotional stakes take priority over physical ones, and drama is created through a frank conversation over punching and flying.

(Although, to be perfectly fair, The Trouble With Love has plenty of those as well....) 

When it comes to reviewing my friends' work, it's rare for me to be super-critical....but I also try not to provide superlatives. So it's in that spirit that I say that The Trouble With Love is one of the few genuinely moving reading experiences I've had in comics for a long time. It's not easy, nor does it shock, but is one of the best-written comics I've read in quite awhile.

(Also, it's available in both hard copy and on Kindle - if you don't own a Kindle/mobile device, Kindle does have a browser-based reader - simply head to http://read.amazon.com after ordering, sign in, and enjoy!)

What DAN CON 2014 Taught Me About Life

To say that 2013 was a pretty low year for me would be....well, understatement. Drama. Grief. Isolation.

In other words, typical day-to-day stuff for the geek/nerd lifestyle.

So this year, I had resolved to be more social - to actually force myself to interact with others. (Thankfully, a pal's New Year's Eve invitation sweetened the deal). So it was in that spirit that I headed into Dan Con 2014, hoping for a reunion with some Comic Related (and other Chicago) pals that I kept at arm's length through 2013.

Admittedly, it was a bit tough - I've been attempting to reconnect with the things that I enjoy doing, to find the time to follow through. (This blog, in particular, suffered through the emotional sturm in drang of 2013).  Perhaps now that I'm seeing increased activity on the work front (both in terms of a current gig and requests for my time for potential future work), and with a nascent writing career budding, my time has been....well, at a premium.

But ironically....well, this is kind of a bit convoluted, but here goes. In many groups that share my interest, there's this belief that yes, we're all inclusive....but that often leads to groupthink. And groupthink leads to being unmutual.

And quite frankly, I think The Prisoner handled those themes extremely well.

OK, let me see if I can articulate it differently....I had a lot of irons in the fire. Some of them threatened to drag me down, and this year...I made a concerted effort to give up those things which weren't bringing me joy. There was some resistance - not on my part, but when you're leaving a group, sometimes the group feels like you're necessary, when you may not be. And sometimes, you need to ask forgiveness rather than permission.

I've been culling through and paring my life down to the most essential...and sometimes, I wondered if the kind of belonging I craved wasn't within my immediate reach. That the price of being part of a particular group meant feeling that ache of not quite fitting in...that somehow, belonging meant hiding what I truly felt.

Thankfully, Dan Con taught me that acceptance is within reach....and that sometimes, I forget that the people who care about me are not always within my line of sight.

And that maybe, if I'm feeling excluded from some groups - when I should feel included - that might be a sign.....

Enough ranting for today. More fun and joy in the future. I promise.

My Self-Absorbed Comic-Related Week

Yes, it's the end of the week, and the middle of the month, and that means only one thing - my latest column for Comic Related. Yes, while the rest of the world indulges in an unhealthy interest in both Pinterest and Kony 2012, I urge you to see this movie. Trust me, it is that good.

Recently had a chance to check out the Chicago Flower & Garden Show via my pals at Chicago Now - and yes, I have a Job Stalker post up and running. Granted, it's a link dump, but then again, cleaning out my Firefox bookmarks and Evernote files can often lead to better things - helps clear out the old mental cobwebs and spurs my further creativity.

And while you're giving the latest episode of Zone 4 a listen (where we talk to the mighty Decapitated Dan about the genius of Dan Con), please feel free to check me out on the most recent episodes of our successful web comic. (That's right, I'm some kind of time traveling eccentric, because God knows, no one would ever think I would have any interest in that kind of thing). The one thing I like about Andrew Law's art - he makes me look halfway decent.

I don't think I have ever been this skinny in my entire life. But then again, that is the power of Zone 4.

Finally - don't know when the Wonder Man web comic is due to be released (they're still doing the art, and that's a good sign - I would rather have great art done well than Liefeld-esque art rushed through), but the company is Excelsior Webcomics, and the idea is to show some sample pages on the site and allow you, the reader, to order via IndyPlanet. I'll let you guys know, and quite honestly - I think you'll like my work. It's probably the only book in 2012 that guarantees equal measures neo-Buddhist thought and robot punching.

Your Unsubtle Reminder Video for Tomorrow Moment of Zen

I'll be here - won't you?