This Post Will Self-Destruct in Two Minutes

I've been posting Love and Capes covers for a while now, but I've never run into the situation I have on this cover: I can't show it to you. Well, not completely. There's a surprise guest-star in issue #9. As such, I can't show you half the cover. That's why the right side seems so empty here: I deleted the character that's standing there. Now, if you buy #8, and I hope you will, you can see the full cover there. Now that I have a schedule locked down, I'm back to running ads for the next issue, complete with the next cover.

With issue #8 done aside from a rewrite here or there, one minor art correction, and the inevitable corrections from the Secret Society of Super-Reviewers. I'm in good shape for leaving for San Diego. It'll be nice to not have this over my head while I'm there, and with that brainspace nice and clear, I should be able to get some good ideas for the new issue.

Issue eight will be in stores in October, and debuting at Mid-Ohio-Con.

RIP Tony Snow

Okay, I'll break my rule just one more time.

I always liked Tony Snow. I'm sure people didn't like his politics, and I get that, but I think he was just a nice guy. It was his "Fox News Sunday" that started my obsession with the Sunday news programs.

The thing about Tony that I appreciated the most was his sense of perspective. He understood the silliness of politics and life. He never took himself too seriously.

It's been reported before, but there was a time he went over to Iraq with the President and wore a big dopey looking helmet and flak jacket. The picture was carried widely, and much fun was made of him. He took it all, and made fun of himself, too. Then he got that picture blown up and put in his office, to remind himself and his staff too keep everything in perspective.

He loved his family and his faith and his job. He faced cancer with confidence and humor. And he'll be missed.

Here's Brit Hume on Tony Snow...

A little more

Still not saying what the mystery cover is, but here's a little more of the image, and now in color!

Soung Lyric Answers, Part III

Here are the song lyric answers:

17. "Is this your name or a doctor's eye chart?"
Dyslexic Heart by Paul Westerberg. From the "Singles" soundtrack.

18. "I'm so tired of being here"
My Immortal by Evanescence and the "Daredevil" soundtrack.

19. "We weren't meant to be, at least not in this lifetime."
Something to Remember by Madonna. From "I'm Breathless", songs inspired and from "Dick Tracy".

20. "Turning and returning to some secret place to hide"
Take My Breath Away by Berlin from the "Top Gun" soundtrack.

21. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows?"
The Rainbow Connection by the Muppets. From the first Muppet Movie soundtrack.

22. "No mortal man can win this day"
A Kind of Magic by Queen's "A Kind of Magic." The songs from and inspired by "Highlander."

23. "So whatever your hands find to do, you must do with all your heart"
Through Your Hands by Don Henley from the Michael soundtrack. And one of the most profound lyrics, borrowed from a line from the Bible. This line alone helped me keep Raider on track. Here's the full lyric:

So whatever your hands find to do
You must do with all your heart
There are thoughts enough
To blow men's minds
And tear great worlds apart
There`s a healing touch to find you
On that broad highway somewhere
To lift you high
As music flyin`
Through the angel`s hair

Man, I love that.

24. "So you feel like it's the end of the story"
The Hero from the Flash Gordon soundtrack by Queen

And, obviously, they're all from movie soundtracks.

And since the book is done...

With major operations done on Love and Capes #8 you know what it's time for:

So whatever your hands find to do you must do with all your heart

If you're following my Twitter feed, you know that I finished issue #8 yesterday! Well, technically it was this morning, I think. And the book itself isn't done completely. I still have to do the trade dress (the bio and recap section, ads, stuff like that) and draw the cover for #9 so that I can advertise it in the back of the book.

Once again, the dialogue is blurred out. Further, for the last page, I'm just showing part of a panel. I appreciate everyone who bops by here to check the progress out, and I don't want to reward you with spoilage.

I like this issue a lot. I think it's up there with #5 and 6 which are personal favorites, I think. Hopefully, every one has gotten better, but occasionally I'll have an issue where I don't quite have the "feel of the ball". To use a metaphor from a sport that's no longer played professionally in Cleveland. Baseball.

Now, I did have a last lyric for the lyric contest. So the one for page 23 is at the top of this post, and the one for the last page, which I find to be exceedingly appropriate:

So you feel like it's the end of the story.

Answers will appear in the next day or so.

You're on Notice

I like TV, probably way more than I should. Then again, I can have the TV on while I'm working, and the Indians are certainly not doing anything worth watching. So, last season, I got hooked on the summer series Burn Notice. USA has some pretty fun series on these days, with Psych, In Plain Sight and new Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

Burn Notice returns tomorrow, and it's got a lot going for it. It's got some bang-up acting. Jeffery Donovan is great as Michael Westin. Bruce Campbell just can't get enough work as far as I'm concerned. I'm catching up on his Brisco County series on DVD and really wishing that had caught on. And the only way Gabrielle Anwar could have been hotter is if she'd perfected that Irish accent she had in the pilot.

The series is nothing but fun, and I recommend it highly.

Cover Story

So I'm doing a cover for someone. I've got the all-clear to reveal what it is, but I'm still a little gunshy about it. I just can't believe I get to work on this. So, for now, I'll tease you with part of the cover image.

I will tell you that it's for IDW, and it's a licensed property. And I'm just so jazzed I get to do it.

If this one gets approved, I may be doing many more, too.

The Rock of Love

My cousin's been getting a bunch of the Showcase Presents collections from DC and has been passing them on to me. It's been great to read such blocks of comics, a lot of which I've never read. The World's Finest collection was great fun. Brave and the Bold was just goofy 6-'s fun. Now I'm reading Sgt. Rock which I never read, despite going to the school founded by his best known artist.

There's a bit where Rock lectures his soldiers on love. It's my favorite bit so far. Click on the artwork the read the sequence.

Wheelin' and Dealin'

I just signed off on the proofs for Powerful Women #2, so it's time for some pre-San Diego specials!

Until July 20th (the day I leave for California) you can get the second sketchbook for $10.00 plus shipping. That's $5.00 off cover price. And, if you order both of them, you can save $10.00 and get the 2-pack for $20.00 plus shipping.

The newbook features Scarlett from G.I. Joe, Princess Leia, She Hulk, Jade, Halo, Poison Ivy, Princess Aura, and many, many more. Click here to be taken to the commission page, where you can order the sketchbooks. They'll ship out from San Diego after the show.