Darth JayDer Comics

This weekend I had some time to think over what my recommendations would be.  While I have thousands of movies, well, er, no,. that’s not true.  While I have about a hundred movies I have ready to recommend I find it hard on which ones to bring forth this early in the game.  So I will, instead of looking through my catalouge, reccommend a film I have seen recently.  This weekend I watched a documentary, so hoping it was goign to be good enough for me to rave about it here, only turning out to be shit piled on top of shit and crap then oozing out of it. So instead, I have picked….

MOVIE : CHARLIE BARTLETT
While the movie doesn’t come without its certain flaws, it’s easy to look past them in this charmer of a indy flick. The story is held together by excellent characters and a desire to see how it all works together.  The story is about a young high school kid, after being kicked out of anumerous private schools, decides to attend public school. Usually, this is where your avergae shitty Hollywood film would fall apart and become the same trnedy bullshit you’ve seen a thousand times.  But for Charlie, he isn’t satisfied with fitting in, he wants to be loved.  He starts his own Pharmacy and therapy sessions in the boys bathroom at the highschool. With great acting from Robert Downy, Jy, this jem slept at the box office and hopefully will hit hard on DVD.

COMIC BOOK : OFF ROAD
This piece of work comes from an artist that attended the same grad school as I did and I think that was the major reason I first picked it up.  Again, this is a story based on excellent characters.  In this semi-autobiographical tale of three friends bonding triumph of their lives a story of well defined characters, excellent adventures and skid plates all find themselves lost and stuck while going off-road on a mad-hungry lust for touching their inner manhood.  The kinship and dialouge makes for a great read.  The author/artist, Sean Murphy, has done his fair share for other comics (Batman, Buffy, Ten Titans, Hellblazer and various Marvel Covers to name a few), it is my knowledge that this is his only autobioographical book and that makes it tops of my list of his career.  A definate worthy read and in my case, reread.

TV SHOW : FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS
It takes alot for me to enjoy, like, or even respect a TV show.  I need good characters, good writing, and good quality.  While Foster’s lacks in the quality department, it is made up for by it’s fun atmosphere and really good writing.  The first three episodes are highly continuity based, similar to Heroes (as in, you miss one episode, you’re fucked).  The show is about an 8 year old kid who has to get rid of his imaginary friend because he is becoming too old.  He finds a foster home/adoption home for imaginary friends.  Soon the adopt-hopefuls at the home take to both Mac, the boy, and Bloo, his imaginary friend.  I went into this show extremely apprehensive.  I didn’t think it would be anything more than a kids show, and at times it does serve to the children audience, but most of the time the writing is actually very good.  A charming watch for a gloomy day and a thoughtful memory of your own imaginary friend from childhood.

BOOK : LULLABY by CHUCK PALAHNIUK
I haven’t read this book in forever.  I picked it up again this weekend and flew through it quickly and loved every page.  With the upcoming travesty that is the film version of Choke, I was feeling in the Palahniuk mood.  The book didn’t disappoint at all.  I loved it as much as I did the first time I read it.  A lullaby, or culling  song is being investigated by Carl, a newspaper reporter with a sharp eye, after numerous children and babies are dying from what seems to be a simple nursery rhyme.  It escalates, it’s awesome.  Read it.

VIDEO GAME: World of Warcraft
I would like nothing else to prop Portal, but chances are everyone with a gaming system or a computer has already played, loved and replayed this game, if not simply for the clever banter from the vicious antagonist, taunting you at each step of the game.  But you have already played this.  If you haven’t do yourself the favor and fucking play it already.
Instead, I’m playing it safe…With Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.  Never playing Warcraft I-III (no need for beratement, I get enough of it from my friend Tim), I still loved the world created here.  WoW, more commonly known, is an MMO, and if you didn’t know this you have been living in Iowa for the past 5 years where technology is still the wonderment of the new traffic light down on Main Street and 1st.  It’s addicting, fun, addicting, troublesome, addicting, and panic-causing, but it’s still a blast to level up and discover new zones and new threats.  I would never recommend this to anyone who wants to accomplish anything with their lives since all your time will now be drawn into this game.  But it’s cheaper than drinking, and twice as addicting.

MUSIC : NO MORE HEROES
If you haven’t heard of this band then this means you must be living in the same area that still marvels over the traffic light on 1st and wonders what an MMO is.  It could be that you simply don’t know the band’s name but their smash hit song, “Sweep the leg” is already a cult classic.  If you still haven’t heard of it, go over to YouTube and check out the video for Sweep The Leg.
OK.
Are you back?
Good.
While the 4 popular songs off the album are tight as hell (Sweep the Leg, Zombie Me, Jump In (Michael) and Someday), the rest of the album is damn good as well.  Since the late 1990s, I have not and will continue not to pick up a whole CD just because I like one or two songs of that album.  I think radio songs are the worst way to know what kind of songs a band makes.  The best songs are usually the ones that will never play on the radio, in most cases.  Anyway, I bought this CD for $1.67 on Used Amazon, and with $1.50 S/H I think I got a decent deal.  Not to mention I love the entire CD.  The music changes up from Pop to Funk to Blues to slow balled.  Its a joy from the first track to the last.

I was scouring the internets today (actually I just googled my name to see what would happen) and I found a review of Lost #1 over at www.FistFullOfComics. Jaysin did an interview with them at Wizard World Chicago before they even had read our book or even knew what kind of evil they were associating themselves with… mu wu ha ha ha ha HA! Anyways, they have a pretty kick ass site and they took the time to actually read Lost #1 and write up a review. Check out their site for comic-y goodness.

The following is taken from www.FistFullOfComics:

There is a new review for Lost #1 out there in the internets. The series of tubes have not let us down. The review can be found at WordSmithLind’s blog over at today.com. Make sure to go check him out. So without further hesitation, I present to you his review.

Friday, July 25th, 2008…1:20 pm

Lost in Life, Lost in comic form

In a universe long ruled by the Comics Code, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, in a world of big pecks, big tits, muscle hugging spandex and evil supervillains, it is amazing that Chazz, Petey and Rog can exist.  They are out of shape, normal, and rude; they drink too much, smoke too much and are slightly sexist, possibly misogynistic.  They are definitely not heroes here to save the day and most likely do not own guns.  They are your average Joes, with average (most likely below average) jobs, wrought with average problems.  They are not heroes at all.

Comic books are one of the last mediums thought of when one thinks independent, DIY and the little guy (Kevin Smith did address this topic in Chasing Amy, but with all the fisting, that part of the story kind of receded to the background).  There are always cries against major record labels and the music industry, but people rarely think of the difficulties of entering the even more exclusive arena of comic books.  I recently came across such a book, Lost, at the recommendation of a friend.  To quote him in an email, “It’s called Lost, they wrote the script back in 2001, so fuck that island and its ongoing nonsensical ramblings.”  On that note, with the added distaste for the island, I saw no harm in giving the book a look.

Anyone that has ever grown up unsatisfied in the suburbs with its malls, big box chain stores, fast food highways and lack of things to do (unless shopping counts), can relate to the opening rant of the “loathsome protagonist…nah, too harsh…that guy,” about cell-phones, houses in the suburbs, fake people, and the aspiration for a career in writing (or any job that is not a standard 9 to 5).  Lost (book 1 of 4) centers around Chazz and his longing for love.  Chazz’s friends Petey and Rog offer him all sorts of bad advice and anecdotes to try to help him on his path to love. The fact that it is a comic book helps the dialogue in that it allows for creative visuals to add originality to this tried topic.  Once again going back to the opening sequence, the fantastic artwork plays on the eyes as the word play plays on reader’s mind.  One of the more original bits of story telling I have seen.

I am not sure how to comment on the actual artwork besides saying it is very good.  I have not read a comic book in over five years, so I do not know the direction that comic art has taken since then.  On that note, the artwork is very consistent, the characters rarely, if ever, stray from their look, and the overall quality of the book is impressive.  There is plenty of diversity in the size of the cells, the “camera” angles, the jump cuts, and the use of wide angle and close up “shots.”  The similarity between directing and cinematographing a movie (the choice of shots, the use of lighting, mise-en-scène, character position etc) and developing a comic book is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the whole medium.  Unlike comic strips which carry a standard format, the comic book allows for much more creativity, thus demanding more from the artist to keep the book interesting and appealing.  This is achieved.

All in all the book is well done and worth the read.  Fans of Kevin Smith will enjoy this book with its dialogue based smart-assedness and vulgar humor, and passing readers will enjoy it as well.  There might be some reservations and calls of misogyny, but remember, it is a comic book about lost twenty-somethings, they don’t know any better.

If you hadn’t noticed or just didn’t check today, the “Buy Our Books” link just to the right now works! Also on the Lost page appropriate links have been added to purchase Issue #1 and Issue #3. Issue #2 is apparently still in the works.

But feel free to dig on our books.

After WWC (Wizard World Chicago… I realize that using the abbreviation and then spelling out said abbreviation defeats the entire purpose of using the abbreviation in the first place, and then taking a few more minutes to type up my acknowledgment is ridiculous, but at least I didn’t spell ridiculous with an “r-e-d”… that drives me nuts) we came home and were super stoked. Creative juices were flowing through our veins and excitement was palpable. So here’s the hoe down on the low down here at Darth JayDer Comics.

• Lost #4 is on its way… for realsies. It is in the stages of being drawn, and I’m sure Jaysin would have more info on that. Believe me when I say this though… Lost #4 will be amazing. Everything that has happened up until now with Lost #1-#3 will seem tame compared to the crescendo that is waiting for you in Issue #4… get ready
• Lost TPB is on its way… when Lost #4 is done. The TPB will be roughly 3,000 pages long and contain so much stuff you won’t know what to do. My guess is your brain will probably explode from the amazing contents. It will collect all 4 issues of the series, a surprise 8 page comic, sketches, interviews, a forward by someone famous (oooh, have I piqued your curiosity?), and a ton of other things. It will be premiering at a comic con near you (assuming you live in Chicago)
• Lost #1-#3 will be available for purchase online through IndyPlanet.com. This should happen very, very soon. Hopefully like this upcoming week soon. Then you can buy as many copies of all books as you want. Give them as gifts, buy them for book burnings, populate your coffee table… we don’t care just buy them and read them. In the mean time, though, you can purchase whatever copies we have left over from WWC directly from Jaysin. Shoot him an email.
• Two new projects are in the works and will be debuting at this here website. The plan is to do a page a week… by page I mean a full comic book page, not just a panel or strip. The pages will be put online for the world to read and love, and then eventually will be collected in individual books that you can purchaase to read, give as gifts, participate in a book burning with, populate your coffee table with, whatever you want.
• Also we plan on stepping up our comic con presence in 2009. That is assuming the enormous supercollider that is being built over the border of France and Switzerland doesn’t create a black hole and destroy the planet when it is turned on. I can guarantee we will be at least available at MegaCon in Orlando and Wizard World Chicago. If all things work out you might see us at a few more.
• Darth JayDer Comics logo is in the works and soon you will be able to not only see it on the site, our myspace, and facebook but also on tshirts, hats, and other things. Start saving some extra scratch so you can sport our spiffy branding on your bod.
• A super awesome contest is coming soon and participation is mandatory.

Phew… That was alot of stuff. I should have warned you it was going to be a big one. Anyways, that is all from me for today. Check back for further news on any and all of these amazing announcements!

Derek

While issue 4 is under way, some people have yet to read the rest of the 3 issues that are available. We decided to make them a little easier to get and more accessible for the time being.

Are you interested in buying the issues of LOST!?
You are?
Then, until our printer (Indy Press) gets going, I have copies in my possession and ready to ship out immediately.

Now, what’s so cool about going directly through us and not simply waiting for the printer to get started? You get extra stuff!

Just email Jaysin at CinemaEditor@gmail.com
Tell him which books you would like (Issue no.1, no.2, or no.3 … sorry, The Limited Edition Director’s Cut is all sold out) =(

Each book is $3.00. S/H is $3.00 (for one book or all 3).
We accept cash or paypal.
Be sure, when you write, to let us know your address, how you are paying and which books you would like.

Now, the fun part. When you order from us directly, for the limited time we actually have books left, you will get free stuff. “What free stuff,” you may be asking yourself? It’s all random. Here’s a look at what you could get…

-Character Cards that were not taken from the Con (Rog cards and Chazz cards remain)
-Lost Posters
-Phenom Paradox CDs
-An original sketch of the lost guys
-A limited run print of Jaysin’s other art pieces

Email today!

We have received a few emails from people letting us know that we have been seen (or in one case, heard) online. Let’s see what and where they have found us…

Fist Full of Comics.com did an interview with me while Derek was ordering pizza at Wizard World Chicago 2008.

;A camera jockey caught us seemingly unbenounced to himself at our booth while cruising down Artist Alley. Find us at 1:07-1:08.

That’s what people have let us know so far. We’re still looking forward to a review from someone. We’ve gotten some awesome responses from people:

The amazing scribe behind such books as X-Men, Wonderlost and Avengers Fairy Tales, C.B. Cebulski friended us on Myspace, saying, “I really enjoyed your book. I look forward to reading the rest.”

Neil friended us after the con, saying, “Just wanted to say that it was cool talking to you guys last Saturday. You guys are going to have to make a sequel to Lost. I’m rereading it again and it still makes me laugh. Cant wait for the 4th issue!”

The awesomely talented guys over atUnshaven Comics wrote to us saying, “I just read the first issue and really enjoyed it. How can I lay my filthy hands on the rest?”

Again, thanks for everyone who is picking this book up and letting us know what they think of it. If you didn’t get a chance to get your books at the con, I still have a small reserve in my apartment ready to ship out. Head on over to the myspace for further info. As soon as I up it there I will return and up the info here as well.

Welp, I’ve had a few days to simmer down from the events of the past weekend. I’ve also had some time to get a “real” site up for us. Granted there is nothing wrong with myspace, but still… it reeks of amateur. So now that I have a few minutes, I’m going to rehash the events of Wizard World Chicago ‘08.

Thursday

Thursday was pretty uneventful. It was a quick three hours for VIP/Premiere pass holders and of course exhibitors. We only sold one book that night, but it was a cool sale of issue #3. A guy came up to the table and was pleased to see #3 on the table. He told me he picked up #1 and #2 last year and was hoping we had #3 done. He purchased and skipped away. I like to think he went back to wherever he came from to read it… I’m pretty sure he did.

That was all of the excitement for Thursday. We set up and just as soon as we were comfortable we tore down. That’s fine because I was wicked tired from travel and lack of sleep, so I didn’t complain. We did meet the people around us and they were cool as hell. Tim Broderick was to our right and was a great guy. He had a graphic novel about crime and intrigue, and was a fantastic salesman. His table partner hadn’t shown up just yet. To our left was Marcus Almand, the super talented writer of Razor Kid. We couldn’t have asked for better table mates.

Friday

Being as this was my first con ever, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Friday was pretty busy. The traffic just didn’t seem to flow that much down our aisle in artist alley. Wizard World Chicago has a kind of crappy layout for the artist alley guys/gals, but we did our best. We met some great people, got interviewed for a couple of websites/pod casts and another video interview for a DVD about comic cons. Our other neighbor Dirk Tiede showed up. What a great guy. Very humble and patient. He offered us lots of advice and he would sit and listen to anyone that walked up to the table. Good guy.

Sales for the day weren’t fabulous, but not too shabby. By the end of the day we had sold a total of 16 books for the two days. We met some really cool people that came up to the table and saw some Jedis, Stormtroopers, Jokers, and Supermen. I wish I could remember everyone’s name, but I’m awful with names… sorry.

We went and watched Wanted Friday night, and I was pleased with the $10 investment. Jaysin tried to not like the movie, but had a hard time.

Saturday

By far the busiest day of the weekend. Lots ‘O People all over the place. Hustle and bustle were in the air. I took a few moments to dork out and walked around, but not too much. Jaysin took some time to dork out and walk around, but not too much. We were both at the table for 80% of the time. We met a ton of cool people. Some took the time to talk to us, others just humored us for a moment then went on their way. By the end of the day we had more than tripled our sales and were sitting at 60 books for the weekend. Good stuff.

The best part of Saturday and the biggest compliment of the weekend happened today. A guy (can’t remember his name… sorry) had stopped by earlier and he took a chance on us and bought book #1 while his friends stood by and watched. About 3 hours later he came back and picked up #2 and #3! He read the first issue and had to come back for more. AWESOME! Our goal of the con was not to make money (I’m not sure we had enough books to even do that if we sold out). Our goal was to get the books into as many hands as would take them so people could read. A good response fuels more books and makes us feel good. That’s what we do it for.

Sunday

The last day of the con. I was told it would be dead and everyone would be looking for a deal of some variety. This was true and false. While there were alot of people looking for deals, it was by no means slow. We had a dedicated salesperson today and it showed. Lots of new faces at the booth and lots more sales. By the end of the day we had sold a total of 98 books! We figure about 30 or 40 different people took a chance on us this weekend and hopefully dug the hell out of the books. It was a success on so many levels.

Sunday did give me the opportunity to meet the guys over at the Unshaven Comics table a few down from us. They were selling a political/social book that was refreshing in a world of capes and spandex. Their graphic novel covering the immigration march in Chicago was terrific. Good guys, good book. Check them out.

That is all for my rehash of Wizard World Chicago ‘08. If I missed something or someone I’m sorry. While my mind is a steel trap (at times), this last weekend it was a pile of mush by the end. Thanks to everyone that stopped by the booth, thanks to those that gave us a chance, and special thanks to all those that helped us make it happen.

We’re already planning for next year and possibly expanding our con circuit by a few more.

Hey everyone! The Lost page is up complete with overviews, previews, and a link to read Issue #1 right there on your very own computer… or the library’s computer. Either is acceptable, but one is better obviously. If you guessed library then you are correct. There is something special about sitting at the computer in the library when you know somewhere at one of the other stations a person is masturbating to porn. Just a special feeling… ugh.

As the site starts to take shape and become “all growed up” I’ve also been doing other stuff to help get some more promo action going.

Issue #1 of Lost is now free for download and can be accessed through our myspace page. It will be up on this site as well… very very soon, so stay patient.

There is also a Facebook page made for Lost. Make sure to check it out, add some pics, add some videos, become a fan, giggle at fighting squirrels… ya know, whatever floats your boat.

That’s it for now, but be sure to keep checking back and back and back… yo!