I put together a short video of Wizard World Philadelphia just to give a feel for what it looks like.  I set up a Blip.TV channel, and it’s pretty intuitive.  Expect some more FT video content in the future.  

Note that a higher quality Quicktime version is also available.   

The new column is up over at iFanboy.  I decided to talk about my love of escape artistry and how it touches the world of comics at its core.  

It’s called The Escape Arts.  

Okay, not technically.  But I did get a gig writing about comics and the like for iFanboy.com along with Jim Mroczkowski and Mike Romo.  I’ll be contributing a weekly column every Tuesday.  Read the announcement here.  

I discovered iFanboy in 2006 when I decided to investigate that strange “podcast” icon in the iTunes store.  I was gearing up for a tonsillectomy and I knew I wanted to pick up some graphic novels for my recovery (I was gonna do this thing right.  Ice cream.  Cartoons.  Comics).  I wanted some solid recommendations since I’d been out of the game for so long.  After listening to their show for several weeks I felt confident in going to the shop and starting my own weekly ritual.  I also started contributing to the forums.  Fuzzy Typewriter would simply not exist without the support and connections from that community.  

At the end of 2007 I made the trek up to New York for the recording of their 100th episode and after party.  Then in April, I offered to help out at New York Comic Con as an official “intern”.  This was a great opportunity to see the making of a video show involving some of the industry’s biggest names.  I’m still processing the experience of meeting Stan Lee the creator of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk.  I was also able to pitch ideas for the sketch I appeared in later in the episode.  A lot of work went into that show, but it was a great deal of fun too.  

And now I have my own @iFanboy email address.  

I’m thrilled to be writing for iFanboy, partly because I’m a fan first, staff writer second, but also…I get to wax poetic on Superman!  Hellboy!  Spider-Man!  I’m taking this seriously, but let’s not lose the big picture, here. This is gonna be fun.   

Browsing through the aisles at Wizard World Philly today, I came across the Popcorn Posters booth and their gorgeous prints from old pulp magazine covers.  They had an incredible collection of posters and prints from various genres.  They had a great deal if you picked up three, so I grabbed a crime (above), a western, and an ace of fighter pilots cover.  These photographs don’t do the colors any justice.  They stand up to crazy scrutiny.  Can’t wait to matte and frame these.  

Hit the jump for the western and ace of fighter pilots prints.  

Continue reading ‘Popcorn Posters’

I recently took part in a comic-centric email interview with Hudson Phillips.  My thoughts are assembled with those of  comic commentators Josh Flanagan, Chris Neesman, Angela Paman, and Ron Richards.  My first sentence is probably the most inarticulate thing I’ve ever come up with, but otherwise you’re in for some really thoughtful conjecture about the industry and fan community.  

Hudson’s been compiling some very interesting panel discussions lately, and I really appreciate being asked to take part in this one.  

from www.brightcove.tv posted with vodpod

Is this the next Lost?  All signs–save maybe the writing credit–point to Yes.  Even with a new Joss Whedon series looming on the horizon, this is my most anticipated show for next season.  Not even Pacey can ruin this one.  Right?     

It’s a haunting review show!

“Spooky”

00:00 - A Crank Call
01:44 - Our First Flash Fiction Submission!
02:27 - Bessie Anne’s Post-Apocalyptic Teashop
06:19 - The Orphanage
15:43 - Arkham Asylum
36:33 - Credits

The feed

Here’s an old story from junior year of college.  Probably my first real attempt at a short story.  Not altogether successful, but there are some descriptions I like.  It was good enough to tie with two other stories for first place in the university fiction contest.  

Always fun and terrifying to dredge up shoddy fiction from the past.  

**********

Spencer of the Apes

Spence was alone, keeping an eye on the party favors, the pile of jackets, the ravaged butter cream cake. The sole bachelor, he was charged with guarding the picnic table as the rest of the party made its way through the zoo.  The neighbor boy turned nine that day.  Spence wondered what festivities lie ahead for his own twenty-fifth birthday.  Less mylar and frosting, perhaps.  

He watched the rows of primates.  They cavorted about, often bouncing into each other like furry pinballs.  Monkeys had no concept of censorship or public decorum.  They acted on their most base desires, always hungry, always grasping. It was a group tantrum.  Only the orangutan seemed uninterested in the spectacle.  The lone wallflower, he appeared to be meditating.  He was entirely still, reflecting on some vision in the distance.  Spence followed his gaze.

Spence and the orangutan both eyed the young woman in the roller skates. Neither knew her name, but each was justly transfixed.  How like a flamingo she was, balanced on one perfect leg, prying that scrap of whatever-it-was from her wheels.  She was remarkable.

(More after the jump)

Continue reading ‘Spencer of the Apes’

An early trailer for Joss Whedon’s new dramatic series Dollhouse has arrived.  Whedon’s a major influence, so expect plenty of coverage from this guy.  It all starts here: