This video clearly illustrates the dark side of being a freelancer. Thanks to Ande Parks for sending it my way.
I'm Not Above a Little Product Placement If I Like the Product
This was a hard page to break. 
I actually did two versions of the script and sent it to a friend before committing to the final version. It was one of those great communication moments where I wrote and said "Here's what I was thinking, but none of it's very good" and my friend said "Just put these words from A and these words from B together and you're there."
And wow, was he right. Of course, you'll have to wait until July to find out. Sorry about that.
As far as the Starbucks reference, yeah, it's product placement of a sort, but I do drink the stuff myself. Regularly. Almost obsessively. And, I love the idea that they've even made it into another dimension.
And they didn't pay for it. But if they want to send me some gift cards, I wouldn't say no.
Cover Recreation
Because of my process in working on Love and Capes, I don't actually have original artwork. But I have started taking commissions for artwork recreations. Recently, I was contacted about recreating the cover for the forthcoming issue #11. Here it is, along with the Figment statue in my office (courtesy of ace voice-over guy, fine promoter, and good friend Roger Price). The finished piece is 11x17 on bristol board.
These are a lot of fun to do, so if anyone else is interested, please let me know.
This also seems like a great time to tell you that Love and Capes #11 will be in the June Previews Catalog, for reals this time, order code JUN091021.
Bed Head
I'm back on the Love and Capes horse, drawing away and working on new pages. I'm taking the opportunity of this long weekend, which isn't really a weekend off for those of us who are self-employed, but is at least a little slow. I've had to cut the copy from the sample panel here, so I don't spoil anything.
I was stuck on page fourteen, too, and then started breaking down the rest of the book. That's when I realized that I didn't have enough room for my planned page fourteen, so I cut it, solving any number of problems. Yay for space management.
Also, the weekend has brought a flurry of last-minute RSVPs for Mark and Abby's wedding and the cover promotion. That was great to see. This promotion has gone better than I could have hoped.
Pop Candy Validation!
Whitney Matheson said some awfully nice things about Love and Capes over on her USA Today blog. Check it out here.
Keeping With My Foodie Theme
Right before I left for my FCBD adventures, I did a speaking engagement at the Shaker Heights Library. It was a great event, and I taught some really cool kids. One of the very nice touches was that not only did they provide a water bottle for me, but they actually customized it. That was just priceless.
I think I'm going to add this to my list of riders now.
So You Say it was My Birthday?
Saturday was my birthday. I went out for a little training cruise with some Starfleet cadets, and then a man I haven't seen if 15 years took over the Starship Reliant… wait, no, that's Star Trek II. Actually I spent a good chunk of my birthday working, first on a particularly huge project that's lingering around the studio and then doing caricatures at a kid's party that night. I can't say my first choice was to spend a Saturday birthday working, but after thinking about it, it really wasn't that bad. I mean, I spent my birthday getting paid to do what I love. That's always a good present.
I did spend time the day before and the day after with my family, friends and loved ones. That's always the best present.
But, while I'm really not about The Presents, I've been lucky to get more than a few excellent presents. Years ago, friends of mine arranged a private showing of Star Trek II for my birthday. I love the stuff that's something I would never have thought of, and yet when I get it, I think "that's utterly perfect." And while I appreciated everything I received this weekend, I've got to call out two of them.
My brother Mike got me some cookies. Riffing off something I said after a post-Watchmen trip to Eat-n-Park, he had them make special Watchmen cookies. Eat-n-Park has as a signature item the Smiley Face cookie. Well, Mike had them add a little splot of red to make it more Watchmenesque.
Of course, the real question is: Would Alan Moore eat one? I don't know.
The other was my cousin Jamie who got me a Married With Children, Season 6 DVD set. I never asked for it. And, while I liked the show, I'm not an uberfan the way I am with, say, Star Trek or Angel. But Jamie remembered that there was one episode of MWC that I thought was just hysterical. The b-plot was Al and Jefferson making a crib. I couldn't remember the main plot, but the scenes of them making this thing was like a live action Warner Brothers cartoon, and I can't remember many times I laughed harder.
But, only knowing the B-plot, I could never find it when it reaired in syndication. Jamie managed to find it the episode, hampered by the fact that I was wrong about what Al and Jefferson were building. It was actually a workbench. The A-plot was Kelly being invited to a MENSA-like party as a goof. The episode is entitled Hi-Q, and having watched it last night, it's still pretty funny.
It's something I never would have gotten myself, but I'm so glad I have it. I may burn it to my iPod, because, y'know, I know ways to do that.
I had a great birthday, and thanks to everyone who was part of it. Friends and family, in person, calls and e-mails. I appreciate it all.
Capsule Reviews
It's been a week, so I thought I'll pull together some of the reviews of the Free Comic Book Day issue of Love and Capes. Please click on the review to read them in full.
Johanna at Comics Worth Reading…
Abby takes on Mark’s Crusader powers for a short time, just to better understand that part of his life. It’s very clever reasoning to set up a classic comic girlfriend plot, and as usual, Thom Zahler handles it with a great deal of humor, depth, and emotion.
And my favorite part…
If I could find people to make up a group with me, I’d love to go to a convention as Charlotte, Abby’s snarky sister.
Although this is just as sharp and funny as any issue of this remarkable series, there’s some true drama here that pulls you in and makes you feel for Abby in a way that’s somehow perfectly relatable, even for those of us who haven’t gotten around to being superheroes yet.
This is another one of those books that I utterly look forward to every Free Comic Book Day, as writer/artist Thom Zahler has an uncanny knack for coming up with stories that make you laugh and contain gallon upon gallon of heart…its the overall heartfelt message that he delivers and the way that he does it that makes Love and Capes such a riotous good time.
…plenty of relationship stuff and examination of the genre tropes (without trying to deconstruct those tropes or make them seem laughable)…Strongly recommended, even if you have to pay regular price for it.
It’s a well done, pleasant slice of life/superhero book…They used to make a lot more of these at the beginning of the decade, didn’t they? Nice to see someone still at it and making an organic story out of it instead of a thinly veiled attempt at appealing to the superhero and indie crowds.
Nicely stylized art and cute super-hero/relationship comedy. The actual story here is one we’ve seen numerous times in various super-hero melodramas, but Thomas Zahler gives it a unique spin this time around that’s appealing. Get it.
The Love and Capes book was pretty impressive. A great looking book from cover to cover.
All You Need is Ted
I did a commission of the Blue Beetle (the real one) for my friend Nick in Texas. He's got the original, but there's no reason you can't share in the eye candy, digital style. I borrowed heavily from the excellent Brave and the Bold cartoon style, as excellently voiced by Wil Wheaton.
I Love You, Why Don't You Love Me?
During my recent trip to New Orleans, I happened upon the Star Trek Slot Machine at the Harrah's casino. It was all kinds of cool, aside from the part where it took my money. If I was really channelling my inner Kirk, I could have found a way to talk it into paying out. "Fact… you are a machine… that's meant to pay out… yet you are not paying out. Why? You've failed your primary directive. You're also meant to entertain… but with no payout… I'm not entertained. Failure number two!"