Text interview with Moi

Heyo, I did an interview with MetalMadness122 over on Deviant Art. Go check it out!

Interview here! ‎ Read more!

Countdown Prologue

The Countdown begins! Dont' know what this is? Better watch this video to find out! ‎ Read more!

So What Happens Next?

A common criticism I often hear from people who don't like comic books is "Nothing ever really changes" or "there is no conclusion." It's at that point I just kind of stare confusedly at them since that's exactly why I love comics!

Consider for a moment any television show that you feel was canceled before its time or before there was a satisfactory conclusion. Don't you just want to know what happened next? Where the stories went to? If two characters got together in the end? If someone died? If someone ascended to another plane of existence or something? I certainly have. But the beautiful thing about comic books is that there's always something NEXT.

Will Marvel ever allow Peter Parker to grow old? Probably not. But there's always another story to tell. I do not accept the idea that "every story has been told." It's a matter of the details that count, the dialogue spoken, and the actual situations the characters go through. While I don't buy Amazing Spider-Man because of a certain story element that I've gone on and on about, I am fairly certain that at some point in the future that Peter and Mary Jane will get back together again. And it's the how that fascinates me and the anticipation of it that gets me to check out the book in the shop on occasion or in trade (even if I never buy the thing).

And the criticism of comics is particularly confusing when you consider how much of entertainment today is built on the idea of sequels and a continuing story. Would sequels be as popular as they are if there wasn't a market for a continuing story? Hell, I'm interested in what happens next in Watchmen, for crying out loud, even if I know the chances of a sequel are one in fifty gazillion.

It's why I get so upset when characters are killed. Does this mean their story is over? Their struggles ultimately pointless? Will they come back? And let's be fair, people, even though it's been said that everyone's died at least once, not every character is so fortunate to return to the land of the living in comics.

J. Michael Straczynski, when writing Babylon 5, showed a vision of the future where two main characters died at each other's hands. A few people were upset and complained to him, "But now we know how it's going to end!" His response stopped the complaints when he said, "Well yeah, but how did they get to that point?" I love to make trailers for upcoming stuff for Atop the Fourth Wall, to give hints and to talk to other people about what I plan to do, because I'd like to think people are excited as I am about what happens next.

Subsequently, this is why I tend to dislike prequels. I don't care about what happened before; we know the details well enough, and adding in "shocking new revelations" just makes continuity issues abound. Tell us what happens NEXT, not what's already happened.

It's been said that people want to relate to characters in fiction. Well, I may believe in happily ever after, but that doesn't mean the story itself is over. People may die or move on, but the story itself still goes on, albeit from other people's perspectives. We always eagerly anticipate the next chapter of our lives, to look ahead and think, "What happens next?" We crave the continuation, the next story, the next great event that will challenge us or our heroes and see how they overcome to it.

I love comics because I know that somehow, somewhere, there's always something that's next... most of the time, anyway. ‎ Read more!

Superman vs. the Terminator #1

Thankfully this comic will NOT be back.



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Your Moment of Awesome for the Day

Courtesy of IGN:



THIS, my friends, is Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Wonder Woman #33 coming out this Wednesday. =3 ‎ Read more!

Longbox - A Solution for Digital Comics?

Well, there's apparently a new system in the works, an iTunes-style system for reading and downloading digital comics coming called Longbox. The panel that goes into discussing it is located here.

It looks pretty ambitious, but some of the devices they're proposing to use this thing for in the future have got me scratching my head. While I'm perfectly happy to read comics on my computer screen, where there's space, why would anyone want to read a comic on their Nintendo DS or an iPhone? Basically that means you can't see the entire page unless you zoom out, in which case you can't read the text.

Furthermore I have to roll my eyes when they call iTunes better than winamp, since I find iTunes to be a piece of crap that I refuse to install on my computer and much prefer the simple interface of winamp.

Also I still have to sigh that they're this worried about piracy when the piracy's still going to happen. Just buy the license for the CDisplay comic reader that everyone's using already and distribute comics for it - the CBR and CBZ format is already out there and people aren't going to necessarily stop using it, though I like the idea that Longbox could have creator commentary on comics.

We'll see how this goes, though it should be noted that only two companies seem to have signed on for this thing right now. We'll know it's bigger when we see DC and Marvel on the table. ‎ Read more!

Odds and Ends

Some more various odds and ends for people!

First and foremost:

Let's Play Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force
I'm premiering a new series since I've always wanted to try my hands at a Let's Play, so let's see what people think of it!


In this mission, we wonder why Apple hasn't sued Star Trek over the iMod.

EDITED TO ADD:


Sooo, Episode 2 is going up tonight on That Guy With the Glasses as well, so here's a bonus for people who come back - episode 2! Witness the most arduous and intense mission for Ensign Munroe yet - PUSHING A BUTTON!

Lightbringer Returns!
Lightbringer, that webcomic that I was poorly drawing for two and a half years, will be resuming tomorrow! So now's the perfect opportunity to see my initial poor writing and drawing, my improved writing and slightly-improved art, before we head into two guest pages and new artist Chad Rocco!

Different theme song?
Well, I've gotten more than a few complaints from people saying that they prefer the cleaned up version of the theme song that new theme song composer Vincent E.L. has on his website. Now, I'd like to think I listen to my fans and their opinions, so I'm willing to use the other version if that's what the majority of you want.

As for why I'm using the current version, more or less I like the grainier quality since it sounds more like an old west gunslinger ballad than the other version, but like I said, I can understand why others would prefer the cleaned-up one. So, what do you all think? ‎ Read more!

Secret Defenders #10

You'd think a comic about an alien cyborg woman trying to nuke Saturn's moon while a cosmic surfer, an armored war machine, and a man wielding norse weaponry try to stop her would be far less dull than this is.



‎ Read more!

Theme Song Contest Winner!

Congratulations to the winner and thanks to all who entered!

‎ Read more!

Secret Defenders #9

Who says there aren't any overweight superheroes?

Another text review turned to video!



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Updates!

Schedule

Well, let's get the stuff out of the way that you want to know. Here's the schedule for upcoming episodes for the next several weeks:

6/8 – Secret Defenders #9
6/15 – Secret Defenders #10
6/22 – Superman vs. the Terminator #1
6/29 – Countdown Prologue
7/6 – Countdown Part 1
7/13 – Countdown Part 2
7/20 – Top 15 Worst Moments of Countdown
7/27 – Xena #1

Revolution of the Mask Update
And that update is... THAT IT'S COMING! When? When it's done. XD Like I've said, I have the first half of the next issue all ready, but Leo of course has other commitments and a personal life that take precedence. As such, all I can guarantee is that it will indeed be coming soon.

Lightbringer Update
Better news on the webcomic front. The good Chad Rocco has completed the last page needed for updates to resume on Lightbringer. Now all I need to do is letter the things and updates will resume! Also I want to wait for Project Overcross to finish so readers won't be confused by an update on wednesday and then on thursday. XD

MY FANS KICK ASS!
I just want to give a big shout-out to all the fans who have been sending me donations lately. I really appreciate how you dump this garbage on me instead of dealing with it yourself.

Oh, but I kid, just thanks so much, people! My fans kick ass and take names!

Theme Song Contest
Delayed indefinitely.

KIDDING! The contest is running smoothly and a winner will be announced on June 11th in a special video. Thanks so much to all the talented, awesome people who have entered so far!

Continue the awesomeness, peeps!

EDIT:
EXTRA!
OH! I almost forgot! Enjoy my commentary for the Warrior #1 review. ^_~ Please forgive the crappy mic.

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The Marriage of Hercules and Xena #1

Here comes the bride, all dressed in- red leather?



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