|
My first project this new millennium will take me into the dangerous and
frustrating world of small press comics. The good people at WHATEVER
COMICS, a local comic in Arizona, have decided that they like my writing so
well that they want me to be published there. The staff is a group of high
dedicated young artists and writers determined to get their stuff out there
at all costs, and all hoping to quit their day jobs. Needless to say, I fit
right in amongst them.
WHATEVER COMICS will be putting out a quarterly anthology which will
include (starting this spring) a little five page story called DARK
PASSAGES written by yours truly. It is my sort of homage to the old EC
Comics that I have always loved.
The rest of the WHATEVER COMICS anthology will be very diverse with
stories ranging from slice of life vignettes told in comic form to violent
anime. It is all very high quality work.
Even if I wasn't involved, I would recommend it. Of course, I recommend
that people give a glance to every independent locally produced comic.
There are sometimes some real gems out there.
My second project this new year, is taking on the role of assistant
storyteller for the local Live Action Vampire game. I'm looking forward to
it, because I think I have had every position in LARP hierarchy except this
one. For those of you who do not roleplay, let me assure it that it can be
a great outlet for creative energy.
I will also try my best to have an article a month for THE COLLECTOR TIMES.
Working for WHATEVER COMICS and being the assistant story teller on the
Vampire LARP should give me lots of material to work with.
I have two suggestions for comics to look for in the next millennium. The
first is Joe Kelly and Chris Bachalo's STEAMPUNK. This is one of the best
drawn comics out there. I love the dark colors and twisted, inhuman
expressions. Chris Bachalo is one of the best artists out there.
The second is ERNOR, an independent comic put out by Patrick and Vickie
Kieth. It is the coolest fantasy comic since ELFQUEST, and in many ways it
is a superior comic, because it keeps the scope of the world small and the
story is simpler to understand and explain. The art is incredible and
storytelling is very simple, yet very engrossing.
All this, plus a fiancee and the hunt for a new day job. My next
millennium is already filled.
Brandon B. Cracraft
|