Zuda Zuda Zuda

I've been working with Bill Williams of Lone Star Press for years now. So, one day, he comes to me and says "You want to pitch something for Zudacomics?"

For those of you not in the know, Zudacomics is DC Comics' online webstrip portal. They run a competition, kind of like American Idol without the cloying backstories and makeovers. Every month, it's a new competition. And this month, Bill and I are competing.

So, click to read The Urban Adventures of Melvin Blank. Bill wrote it, and I drew it. Here's the official description:

Melvin Blank has the mind of a child and the strength of a brute. After the passing of his parents, he lives in his Mother’s house in the heart of a big decaying city. He works as a dishwasher at a nearby greasy spoon and he has his urban adventures as he travels to and from work. Melvin thinks its hilarious that the mass transit system he rides, the City Area Rapid Transit System, is called "the CART", but he doesn't understand why a nearby diner is called "Joe Mama's". In a world of grays, Melvin sees things in black and white. Good and bad. Day and night. Cereal and pizza.
Melvin is pretty sure that the house down the street is haunted, but don't worry, he plans to do something about it. He is in love with a beautiful co-worker who has an abusive boyfriend, for now. He is selling items from his parent’s estate to pay for an elaborate headstone for the pair. At home, he has an angry cat named SOCKS and he never, ever misses SPACE PATROL RANGER. Melvin is absolutely sure that he is living the American Dream and he wants to share it with the rest of the people in his neighborhood whether they like it or not.
The first story is a complete eight screen story. It has a beginning, middle, and an end. Melvin is like that, he likes things simple.

We've created the strip. That was the easy part. Now we have to rock the vote. Well, you have to rock the vote. You can only vote once per person, so despite having a long line of dead Irish relatives, I've used up my one. It's your turn. Vote for us! We promise a webstrip in every pot! Two webstrips in every garage.

But please, check it out and vote!

A Smackeral of My Free Comic Book Day

Still on the road, so here's a quick smattering of my Free Comic Book Day experience...

The big one. Diamond glitched on us and didn’t run the planned solicitation for Love and Capes #11 in the May Previews catalog. Obviously, this is a huge deal, especially since I time the post-FCBD issue to time with Free Comic Book Day specifically so that people can read it and say “This is awesome. Can I have some more?”

I’ve talked with my rep and Diamond and, while they obviously can’t make it right, they are stepping up to the plate and making it less wrong. More on this as things shake out, but the important thing is that it will be in the August Previews Catalog.

Sell outs. I’ve received a few reports that Love and Capes was one of the first books gone, including my local comic shop running out just a couple of hours after store open. While I’m disappointed for those fans who wanted it, I’m happy to know it resonates so well. Of course, if the shops want to order a few more for next year, I won’t complain about that either.

Fan appreciation. Man, I love how people love the book. I’ve received more than a few e-mails and tweets, as well some great blog posts. I even got an e-mail from Israel, where Free Comic Book Day is on Friday and not Saturday because of the Sabbath. That was a treat and a half. And I’ve received some new RSVPs to the wedding cover, too.

Travel time. Randy Lander had a great event and treated all of us as well as can be. He said that he had his best Free Comic Book Day ever, so I can only imagine it was because he had Alan J. Porter and Paul Benjamin.

And speaking of which. It was great getting to hang with Alan and Paul and Paul Maybury. I talked some good shop, and left a little more inspired and a little wiser. Aw, who am I kidding? We just talked about Wolverine.

And a big "thank you" to Bill Williams, who not only was his normal personable self, but let me crash at the Billcave for the trip. Thanks, Bill!