Here are a few links you might find useful if you, like most of us geeks, want to break into the comic book business. For the most part these links are geared towards writers, but some have useful info for artists, inkers, etc...
http://comicbookcreatorsworkshop.freeforums.org/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2283882_be-creative-comic-book-writer.html
http://www.digitalwebbing.com/talent/
http://www.comicjobz.com/
(comicjobz is down at the moment, but hopefully will be up an running soon)
List of comic book companies
If you know of any more useful links leave a comment and I'll post them.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Blue Beetle version 4
It is no secret I am a fan of the Blue Beetle. The character of Ted Kord became my all time favorite comic book hero when I was a kid and I got my hands on an old Charlton Comic featuring the character. Then when I was a few years older he made another appearance in Crisis on Infinite Earths, then Legends and even his own short lived series. I never missed an issue and followed the character through many different appearances all the way to his death a few years ago.
While Ted was my favorite I also have a fondness for Dan Garrett and eventually got my hands on the old Blue Beetle radio shows. While that was not the interpretation I was use to, by this time I had learned about the various incarnations of the character, I still thoroughly enjoyed every minute and still do today.
Fast forward to the new kid Jaime Reyes. While I actually do like the character and the book, which is now canceled, it never felt like the Blue Beetle to me. First the scarab that Jaime possesses is technological and not magical, which bugs me. Now I know six of one, half a dozen of the other, but the scarab has been magical up until the new series started, at which time it was retconned. Plus he's just too powerful. Sure Dan had powers too, but Jaime is in an all new class. Poor Ted didn't have powers and IMO is still the best BB of all.
Now that I got my little whining session out of the way it is time to move on.
It was hinted at by Dan Didio that Ted Kord would be one of the Black Lanterns, the zombie lanterns, that appear in Blackest Night. In case you don't know that is the next big Green Lantern event set for next year, that started during the whole Sinestro Corps event and has been building ever since.
Anyway now that we pretty much know that Ted is not coming back in the near future, at least not a live Ted and Jaime's book has been cancelled, I think it is time for a new Blue Beetle. You might be saying WTF about now, I mean Jaime is still a new character and we can't have 2 Blue Beetles running around, but hear me out.
First the scarab that Jaime found is technological and thus is not the real scarab(for the purposes of my argument), which must still be lost somewhere. So, at least in my mind, he is not really Blue Beetle. That means someone else could find the magical scarab and take up the mantle. My vote is for Dannielle Garrett, grandaughter of Dan Garrett.
Now even if you discount my scarab "theory" and say Jaime's has the real one, Dannielle could still be the new BB because she has access to Ted's stuff. She did use the bug in at least one issue of Jaime's book. So she could take up the mantle started by her grand dad and become the new, female Blue Beetle carrying on the tradition of both Dan and Ted. You may ask why would they do this and what about Jaime. Well he could become simply The Scarab and as for why... just because I think it would work. No other reason, Blue Beetle is a legacy character and I think that it should be passed to the next family memeber, Dani.
DC has done a fairly good job of taking formerly male characters, turning them female and making them interesting and new again. Take Manhunter and The Question as the two best examples. Plus DC is on this strong female character kick and a female BB would work for that. She knows the people Ted knows, so she can get all the training she needs. She has access to all of this stuff. She is Dan Garrett's grandkid. Plus she's pretty smart. So she is a perfect fit for the character.
So that is what I think about the direction that the Blue Beetle should go. Unless of course Ted comes back, but even as a huge fan I'm not jumping up and down for that to happen. As much as I like the character, he's had his day, short though it was in the DCU and I am all for letting the next generation step up and take the spotlight.
Now if only Batman would stay dead.....
While Ted was my favorite I also have a fondness for Dan Garrett and eventually got my hands on the old Blue Beetle radio shows. While that was not the interpretation I was use to, by this time I had learned about the various incarnations of the character, I still thoroughly enjoyed every minute and still do today.
Fast forward to the new kid Jaime Reyes. While I actually do like the character and the book, which is now canceled, it never felt like the Blue Beetle to me. First the scarab that Jaime possesses is technological and not magical, which bugs me. Now I know six of one, half a dozen of the other, but the scarab has been magical up until the new series started, at which time it was retconned. Plus he's just too powerful. Sure Dan had powers too, but Jaime is in an all new class. Poor Ted didn't have powers and IMO is still the best BB of all.
Now that I got my little whining session out of the way it is time to move on.
It was hinted at by Dan Didio that Ted Kord would be one of the Black Lanterns, the zombie lanterns, that appear in Blackest Night. In case you don't know that is the next big Green Lantern event set for next year, that started during the whole Sinestro Corps event and has been building ever since.
Anyway now that we pretty much know that Ted is not coming back in the near future, at least not a live Ted and Jaime's book has been cancelled, I think it is time for a new Blue Beetle. You might be saying WTF about now, I mean Jaime is still a new character and we can't have 2 Blue Beetles running around, but hear me out.
First the scarab that Jaime found is technological and thus is not the real scarab(for the purposes of my argument), which must still be lost somewhere. So, at least in my mind, he is not really Blue Beetle. That means someone else could find the magical scarab and take up the mantle. My vote is for Dannielle Garrett, grandaughter of Dan Garrett.
Now even if you discount my scarab "theory" and say Jaime's has the real one, Dannielle could still be the new BB because she has access to Ted's stuff. She did use the bug in at least one issue of Jaime's book. So she could take up the mantle started by her grand dad and become the new, female Blue Beetle carrying on the tradition of both Dan and Ted. You may ask why would they do this and what about Jaime. Well he could become simply The Scarab and as for why... just because I think it would work. No other reason, Blue Beetle is a legacy character and I think that it should be passed to the next family memeber, Dani.
DC has done a fairly good job of taking formerly male characters, turning them female and making them interesting and new again. Take Manhunter and The Question as the two best examples. Plus DC is on this strong female character kick and a female BB would work for that. She knows the people Ted knows, so she can get all the training she needs. She has access to all of this stuff. She is Dan Garrett's grandkid. Plus she's pretty smart. So she is a perfect fit for the character.
So that is what I think about the direction that the Blue Beetle should go. Unless of course Ted comes back, but even as a huge fan I'm not jumping up and down for that to happen. As much as I like the character, he's had his day, short though it was in the DCU and I am all for letting the next generation step up and take the spotlight.
Now if only Batman would stay dead.....
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Hollow Earth Expedition (HEX) pt.2
As I said in part one of this post I am a HEX fan and can't recommend this book enough. In part 2 I am going to look at and rate the various sections of the book on a scale of 0 (horrible) to 5 (awesome).
The cover:
HEX is a hardcover book and has one of the best covers I've seen on any RPG. The artwork for the cover really gives me a sense of what the game is about danger and adventure, something most RPG cover art fails to accomplish. Even the title font conveys a sense of adventure.
Rating: 5
The table of contents:
This sections pretty much shows that the book is set up in about the same order as every other RPG. Everything is pretty much where you would expect it to be. However, chapter 2 (Characters) also lists the subheading, archetypes, motivations, attributes, skills, talents, resources and flaws. This makes quick referencing character creation easy.
Rating: 5
Flight of the Eagle:
The book begins with the diary of Knut Fraenkel detailing the story of the Eagle and her crew as they journey to the Hollow Earth. As far as flavor text goes this is a pretty good read. It really does a good job of introducing the setting and giving new players a sense of what the game is about. Though there is an adventure included in the book, I'll get to that, this section could easily be converted into a gaming session.
Rating: 5
Introduction:
This section is pretty much the same regurgitated intro you will find in all other RPGs, though the What is Pulp Adventure section could prove helpful to those new to the genre. While I usually just skip this section in most books, a new gamer could find this short intro useful. Not very original, but thankfully short.
Rating: 3
Chapter 1 Setting:
This section does an excellent job of introducing players to the setting. I especially like the inclusion of historical information from the era. It really does a good job of giving you a sense of what the world was like and what was going on in the late 30's. Everything from the cost of every day items to helpful statistics and info about 40 different countries as well as political and social information from the era. My only complaint about this sections is that the info is very oriented towards the surface world. The actual Hollow Earth info is saved for a later chapter.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 2 Characters:
This section is a pretty basic character creation chapter. There are some very good sample characters and suggestions for customizing. Other than the fact is is organized well, better than a lot of other RPG books, it is pretty basic information.
Rating: 4
Chapter 3 Rules:
Again this is a pretty basic chapter that you will find in most RPG books. It is very clear and the rules are easily understood. Of course the Ubiquity system isn't that difficult to master. But the section is well organized and does a good job of making sure readers aren't left scratching there head regarding rules. Short chapter so it is easily referenced.
Rating: 4
Chapter 4 Combat:
Again this chapter is pretty much what you would expect, though it is well written and clear. Like most books a sample of play is included as are many charts, tables and helpful sidebars.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 5 Equipment:
The title says it all. It is hard to screw this chapter up as it is pretty much a list of items and their costs with descriptions. I only wish they would have included a few more weird science items which are a big part of pulp adventure stories.
Rating: 4
Chapter 6 Gamemastering:
This short chapter does a good job of detailing how to run Hollow Earth games. For experienced GMs it may be more of the same, but for a new GM it is great chapter.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 7 The Hollow Earth:
This is a great chapter. It does an excellent job of describing the Hollow Earth, how to get there, its geography and detils like how magnetic fields influence electronic devices. Due to the continual "sun" it even has a section on how constant daylight may affect characters biological cycles. Naturally there is a section on the Atlanteans, their technology and abilities.
Rating: 5
Chapter 8 Friends and Enemies:
This chapter details the potential allies, villains, secret societies and creatures PC's are likely to encounter during their adventures. While it is a pretty basic chapter in most books, the information, especially for the secret societies, is well written and interesting to read. Much is based on supposed real world societies like the Thule.
Rating: 5
Sample Adventure:
While I am not a fan of prefab adventures, this one seems to be a good intro for those new to gaming or as a single session to introduce new players.
Rating: 4
Overall rating: 5
This is a great game that is well put together, fun to read and aesthetically pleasing. For pulp gamers or those interested in pulp adventure games, this book is a must have for your gaming shelf.
The cover:
HEX is a hardcover book and has one of the best covers I've seen on any RPG. The artwork for the cover really gives me a sense of what the game is about danger and adventure, something most RPG cover art fails to accomplish. Even the title font conveys a sense of adventure.
Rating: 5
The table of contents:
This sections pretty much shows that the book is set up in about the same order as every other RPG. Everything is pretty much where you would expect it to be. However, chapter 2 (Characters) also lists the subheading, archetypes, motivations, attributes, skills, talents, resources and flaws. This makes quick referencing character creation easy.
Rating: 5
Flight of the Eagle:
The book begins with the diary of Knut Fraenkel detailing the story of the Eagle and her crew as they journey to the Hollow Earth. As far as flavor text goes this is a pretty good read. It really does a good job of introducing the setting and giving new players a sense of what the game is about. Though there is an adventure included in the book, I'll get to that, this section could easily be converted into a gaming session.
Rating: 5
Introduction:
This section is pretty much the same regurgitated intro you will find in all other RPGs, though the What is Pulp Adventure section could prove helpful to those new to the genre. While I usually just skip this section in most books, a new gamer could find this short intro useful. Not very original, but thankfully short.
Rating: 3
Chapter 1 Setting:
This section does an excellent job of introducing players to the setting. I especially like the inclusion of historical information from the era. It really does a good job of giving you a sense of what the world was like and what was going on in the late 30's. Everything from the cost of every day items to helpful statistics and info about 40 different countries as well as political and social information from the era. My only complaint about this sections is that the info is very oriented towards the surface world. The actual Hollow Earth info is saved for a later chapter.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 2 Characters:
This section is a pretty basic character creation chapter. There are some very good sample characters and suggestions for customizing. Other than the fact is is organized well, better than a lot of other RPG books, it is pretty basic information.
Rating: 4
Chapter 3 Rules:
Again this is a pretty basic chapter that you will find in most RPG books. It is very clear and the rules are easily understood. Of course the Ubiquity system isn't that difficult to master. But the section is well organized and does a good job of making sure readers aren't left scratching there head regarding rules. Short chapter so it is easily referenced.
Rating: 4
Chapter 4 Combat:
Again this chapter is pretty much what you would expect, though it is well written and clear. Like most books a sample of play is included as are many charts, tables and helpful sidebars.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 5 Equipment:
The title says it all. It is hard to screw this chapter up as it is pretty much a list of items and their costs with descriptions. I only wish they would have included a few more weird science items which are a big part of pulp adventure stories.
Rating: 4
Chapter 6 Gamemastering:
This short chapter does a good job of detailing how to run Hollow Earth games. For experienced GMs it may be more of the same, but for a new GM it is great chapter.
Rating: 4.5
Chapter 7 The Hollow Earth:
This is a great chapter. It does an excellent job of describing the Hollow Earth, how to get there, its geography and detils like how magnetic fields influence electronic devices. Due to the continual "sun" it even has a section on how constant daylight may affect characters biological cycles. Naturally there is a section on the Atlanteans, their technology and abilities.
Rating: 5
Chapter 8 Friends and Enemies:
This chapter details the potential allies, villains, secret societies and creatures PC's are likely to encounter during their adventures. While it is a pretty basic chapter in most books, the information, especially for the secret societies, is well written and interesting to read. Much is based on supposed real world societies like the Thule.
Rating: 5
Sample Adventure:
While I am not a fan of prefab adventures, this one seems to be a good intro for those new to gaming or as a single session to introduce new players.
Rating: 4
Overall rating: 5
This is a great game that is well put together, fun to read and aesthetically pleasing. For pulp gamers or those interested in pulp adventure games, this book is a must have for your gaming shelf.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Sad Times Indeed....
The cancellation of gaming icons Dungeon Magazine and Dragon Magazine caused a bit of an uproar in the RPG community, but their demise was just the beginning. (I know they aren't officially gone, but moved to digital format. Since I refuse to subscribe to the farce that is DDI they are gone to me.) Inquest was another gaming magazine that got the axe. Now it seems that Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of my favorite video game magazines has been canceled recently and Scrye magazine will end in April.
The section of the magazine rack, small though it was, where gamers could find periodicals related to their interest has pretty much become non-existent. Sure there are a few video game magazines remaining for now, but I fear those too will soon be replaced by hunting and NASCAR magazines or another Cosmo clone. It seems that gamers and geeks will have to rely on the internet from now on.
I've expressed my disappointment over the death of print media for the past few years and though I am not a huge fan of pdf periodicals, however I do readily admit that some are quite good, it seems that's all we have left. It's a sad thing to see an industry with loyal fans die, but in these tough economic times I suppose ours is only the first of many.
On a side note I plan to have my completed review of Hollow Earth Expedition up next week. It seems that my life revolves around work, research projects and papers of late. There simply isn't enough hours in the day or days in the week to get everything done.
The section of the magazine rack, small though it was, where gamers could find periodicals related to their interest has pretty much become non-existent. Sure there are a few video game magazines remaining for now, but I fear those too will soon be replaced by hunting and NASCAR magazines or another Cosmo clone. It seems that gamers and geeks will have to rely on the internet from now on.
I've expressed my disappointment over the death of print media for the past few years and though I am not a huge fan of pdf periodicals, however I do readily admit that some are quite good, it seems that's all we have left. It's a sad thing to see an industry with loyal fans die, but in these tough economic times I suppose ours is only the first of many.
On a side note I plan to have my completed review of Hollow Earth Expedition up next week. It seems that my life revolves around work, research projects and papers of late. There simply isn't enough hours in the day or days in the week to get everything done.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Battlestar Galactica
If you haven't been keeping up with the current episodes of BSG you are missing out on some of the best episodes in the series.
So far we've seen the Prez and Adama consummate their relationship, the Cylons join the fleet, Starbuck burn her own dead body, and a mutiny that dethroned Adama. I hope the creators don't drop the ball as the series comes to an end, but if the first few episodes for this, the final "season", are any indication the series will go out with a bang. The series is getting so good that it is on the verge of knocking Firefly out of the #1 spot of my all time favorite shows.
If you missed this seasons episodes, check them out on HULU.
So far we've seen the Prez and Adama consummate their relationship, the Cylons join the fleet, Starbuck burn her own dead body, and a mutiny that dethroned Adama. I hope the creators don't drop the ball as the series comes to an end, but if the first few episodes for this, the final "season", are any indication the series will go out with a bang. The series is getting so good that it is on the verge of knocking Firefly out of the #1 spot of my all time favorite shows.
If you missed this seasons episodes, check them out on HULU.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hollow Earth Expedition pt 1
The first time I encountered Exile's Hollow Earth Expedition (HEX) was a couple of years ago at Gen Con. I remember walking by the booth several times during those 4 days and picking up the book several times, but never buying. As anyone who has been to Gen Con knows it is an overwhelming experience at times. There are just so many great products, deals, events and things to try that at times my gamer brain just didn't know which way to go. So while the game definitely piqued my interest, I just didn't have enough gp to get all the gaming gear I wanted. I was forced to be very selective with my purchases and didn't get it at that time.
After returning home I kept thinking about HEX and kicking myself in the butt for passing it up. I love reading pulp stories, I love playing pulp games and yet I didn't get HEX because I wanted to buy the new L5R. I really like L5R, but now that I look back I should have gotten HEX instead.
Skip ahead several months and I just had to have the game. Since I blew my gaming budget for the year, and then some, at Gen Con I opted to get the pdf and loved the game instantly. I have read the pdf several times and just never could get over how beautiful and well done the book was, even though it was only a pdf.
Finally I decided to buy the hard copy a few weeks ago. With out a doubt the pdf does not do justice to the HC. This book is 250+ pages of awesome. While I was not that confident in the ubiquity system at first, I now like it a lot.
Ubiquity is fast and fun. While it did take a few times to get use to the new system, it was not hard to pick up. So far this is my favorite pulp game out there. I can't get enough of the Hollow Earth setting, which is just loaded with adventure potential, but the game is not limited to that setting. You can play an entire pulp campaign on the "surface world", but having some hollow earth connection just adds to any game.
Everything in the system is easy to learn. Though I will say that the Ubiquity system can be a bit annoying if you don't have ubiqity dice. Any dice work for the system, it just requires a few more to get the same results.
As for the book itself, the flavor text is both informative and well written. Potential PCs cover pretty much any type of pulp character you can think of and are very easy to customize. Every thing from masked mystery men, daredevil pilots to occultist can be rolled up and played. While the recently released Secrets of the Surface World (review coming soon) expands on the first book, allowing even more customization, it isn't necessary to enjoy the game.
The core book not only covers all the basics of an RPG like character creation, combat, and equipment, it gives you a real sense of the time in which the game is set. A little bit of everything about the world during that era is covered including populations for many countries.
I really can't recommend this game enough for pulp fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the Mysteries of the Hollow Earth and Revelations of Mars sourcebooks.
I will go a little more indepth in pt 2 of this post. Soon after that I will post my review of Secrets of the Surface world.
After returning home I kept thinking about HEX and kicking myself in the butt for passing it up. I love reading pulp stories, I love playing pulp games and yet I didn't get HEX because I wanted to buy the new L5R. I really like L5R, but now that I look back I should have gotten HEX instead.
Skip ahead several months and I just had to have the game. Since I blew my gaming budget for the year, and then some, at Gen Con I opted to get the pdf and loved the game instantly. I have read the pdf several times and just never could get over how beautiful and well done the book was, even though it was only a pdf.
Finally I decided to buy the hard copy a few weeks ago. With out a doubt the pdf does not do justice to the HC. This book is 250+ pages of awesome. While I was not that confident in the ubiquity system at first, I now like it a lot.
Ubiquity is fast and fun. While it did take a few times to get use to the new system, it was not hard to pick up. So far this is my favorite pulp game out there. I can't get enough of the Hollow Earth setting, which is just loaded with adventure potential, but the game is not limited to that setting. You can play an entire pulp campaign on the "surface world", but having some hollow earth connection just adds to any game.
Everything in the system is easy to learn. Though I will say that the Ubiquity system can be a bit annoying if you don't have ubiqity dice. Any dice work for the system, it just requires a few more to get the same results.
As for the book itself, the flavor text is both informative and well written. Potential PCs cover pretty much any type of pulp character you can think of and are very easy to customize. Every thing from masked mystery men, daredevil pilots to occultist can be rolled up and played. While the recently released Secrets of the Surface World (review coming soon) expands on the first book, allowing even more customization, it isn't necessary to enjoy the game.
The core book not only covers all the basics of an RPG like character creation, combat, and equipment, it gives you a real sense of the time in which the game is set. A little bit of everything about the world during that era is covered including populations for many countries.
I really can't recommend this game enough for pulp fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the Mysteries of the Hollow Earth and Revelations of Mars sourcebooks.
I will go a little more indepth in pt 2 of this post. Soon after that I will post my review of Secrets of the Surface world.
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