Okay, I figured out what happened with the website. George, the colorist for Zombie-sama! has been uploading all the art files on the ftp. These files are huge and totallly put us over the quota for the site. I couldn’t get in since Friday, and it doesn’t seem like any of you were able to either. Anyway, the colored pages look amazing! But I’ve got new ideas for the beginning and ends of the book. I’ll have it open up with Jim being a WW2 reenactor (along with Sanjuro) he will be a member of “Z Company - 442nd RCT” the Japanese American soldiers. Sanjuro’s father would have been one. They’re at a huge reenactor show that’s taking place. Instead of everyone going to the Army collection point at movies end, they go back there were US and German “soldiers” are defending the perimeter as the real National Guard fights elsewhere.

Anyway, I had a real late start yesterday and was doing the “Mr. Mom” thing with the kids while trying to figure out what’s up with the website. I was also going through all the photos we took for the new book. Well, I forgot I had a court date to fight a speeding ticket. My hearing was at 10:30. I got there at one, but because I missed the thing (same room, same Judge) they SUSPENDED my licence until my next court date — September 21st! To make matters worse, the friggin cop didn’t show up either and the judge told me that had I been on time, he would have dismissed the ticket!!!!!

ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH — this coupled with some other family crap that’s going on really put me in a bad mood. I wish I was at a show or in war to keep my mind off these damn things!

Ugh!

Who’s going to Baltimore?

Mike Wieringo was not a friend of mine.

He was however a constant ìfriendly acquaintanceî at so many conventions we had done together. He always had time for small talk at his booth and or mine and made a point to greet you at a restaurant. I remember quite fondly one time at the Baltimore Comic Con, (I believe it was 2003) where me, Mike and Cully Hammer all walked from our hotel to the show one sunny morning. I recall telling (well, actually gushing is more apropos) Mike what an amazing talent he was and that I was in complete awe of him. Though I reeled off several books I had picked up specifically because he was on it, and even pointed out favorite covers and panels, he honestly thought I was out of my mind. He was just that kind of man, so incredulously humble and sincerely self-deprecating amid so much admiration and praise from so many professional peers.

Like many, I am shocked and terribly saddened by Mike’s passing. If his death has hurt me so much, I cannot imagine what his friends and family must be feeling.

Again, Mike Wieringo was not a friend of mine…

But by the Grace of God, I really, really wish he was.

Billy Tucci

Worked all day yesterday on the last issue. Because it was the last issue, it had a ripple effect that had me going back to the earlier ones to recheck and replace all sorts of odds and ends — making it all fit just right. We had to go to my sister-in-law Christine’s very nice birthday party at 6pm and I didn’t return until 10. Deb stayed and I put the boys to sleep. Worked some more, played Call of Duty mulitplayer and went to sleep about 12am. Couldn’t sleep so I got up and worked until 4am, where I finished it. It’s now 10am. I got up about an hour ago (well, didn’t sleep much at all as Matthew had one of those nights) and did some much needed polishing and just sent it off to Deb for polishing. It has moved me completely and believe it’s the best thing I’ve ever written. I’m really tired, but have been working for the past month like I used to. With the cons, personal time, writing and commissions, I feel I’ve made a good account of myself. I will send the final issue off to John after I get it back from Deb. Got some more commissions to do today then must finish Delive’s sketchbooks and do one of Scott’s. So sorry for this guys. Oh TJ please send me an email. I think we forgot to get the details down for your piece.

But have been working real hard on the new project. I’m on the last issue synopsis — each one is a 2-3 page summary of a 24 (I hope) page book. I gotta tell you that I think it would be easier to just write 22 pages of dialogue than pack all the info in. All the travelling also screwed me up as I was dead to the world on my Birthday, and Tuesday didn’t get much else done either. Yesterday was a good day, but Deb took William to the city and my mom and I watched Matthew. He’s a handful!

Mimi spoke with Debi on the phone Tuesday and Virgin made us an offer to produce a 64 page Graphic Novel based on the film script, or at least my version of it. I won’t be able to start it for at least 6 months but that’s when her option is up.. She wasn’t too happy with that, but oh well, I have to do this DC project (of which you already know of ).

I spoke with a bunch of people who are helping me with reference for the new project and Solof, Dom and Black Cat Guy are coming over Monday to take pictures. The project will be announced at the Baltimore show, so I’ve got to have a cover done (Sparky painted) and production sketches of all the characters. I’m even hoping to do a very detailed double page spread of it, but time’s really running out. It’s not really that important I do it and as I always think while typing, figure I’ll do it a few weeks after and post it in Hellion.

Speaking of which, I’m hoping to finish the last issue today so I can post a new Hellion on creating a comics cover.

Chicago WW was okay, got to see Bruce, Joe, TJ and Dawn briefly. That sucked but I had to work. TJ and Dawn stayed one day and Joe the other, Bruce was working and I did spend some good time with him. Next time, we’ll all work together and meet at a show. Since I was only there for two nights, I had dinner meetings — both of which went great! One with DC the other with Amazing Fantasy distribution. They’ll be producing the new sketchbook. It’ll be out later on this year. It’s going to be great — a big departure from my previous work. I’ll also be producing the Hellion sketchbook, but I’m not sure when. I’ve got a meeting with Diamond on September 7th for that.

Until tomorrow — Tally Ho!

Oh, I spoke with Matt Brady at Newsarama. My Hellion column concerning the softball game in San Diego got lost somewhere with all my pictures I sent him last week. It’ll go up today.

I’ve been up since about 5:30am as I’m really psyched about the new project. I finished a very detailed breakdown/treatment of issue 4 yesterday and editied this morning. I felt that it would be the hardest issue of the series and gave myself a cigar after it’s completion. Monday was a really slow day as I took Deb out to the Hamptons and Montauk for the weekend. We returned Monday afternoon, and was greeted with a ton of emails. I slogged through the day on issue #4, but I have to be honest — I was so tired from taking time off (even though we did a lot) and wanted to hang with the boys as I hadn’t seen them in four days. I’ve been missing them (with being gone for San Diego for six days the week before) and even though I’m looking forward to Chicago this weekend, wish it were a week or two earlier. I also miss Sheba our dog, so the day was mostly spent doing family stuff and cleaning the house (which looks like a bomb hit it).

Yesterday morning Beau Smith calle me to check Newsarama — I was shocked at the news of Michael George’s arrest to say the least. The George’s are close, personal friends of ours and Debi and Lauren were both crying after reading the report. It’s a terrible thing, just terrible and I was kinda in a fog the whole day, but at least I worked through it. I spoke with Jimmy P, Terry and Robin Moore and George Perez. We’re all close with the Georges and we all felt the same way. George had not even heard and I had to break the news to him. I wish I hadn’t — he was really upset.

Well, I’m on issue five of the six issue miniseries. I’m off to Chicago and a 6am flight Friday morning, so I better get to work. John M. gets home today or tomorrow and really want to send him my work for his approval tonight. Two very important issues in one day — damn. Better play a game of Call of Duty to get my mind off things!

So who’s going to Chicago and what days? I might not be able to do dinner as I’m going out with DC on Friday and am supposed to have dinner with the Wizard people AND the CBG people Saturday — how do I get out of that ?

Maida and Doug Scott also showed up and it was great seeing them as well!

Hello All,
As per Scott Lamky’s request, here’s a little con report.

Since Deb’s pretty much done with doing cons until next Pittsburgh (that and Motor City are her favorite shows), I was supposed to go with her sister Lauren. Well, La La got a job and my mom offered, so it was me and her taking the plane out of Islip, NY to San Diego. My mother got a knee replacement so we requested a wheel chair for her. Because of that we got first class service to and from San Diego and the bulkhead. On the plane out I drew a commission (a Jade for Karin Weber) that hopefully post up and a bunch of Rock cover designs.

Wednesday was crazy. It was like a Saturday and by the end of the evening, I was bushed. Went out with Solof to get four “victory cigars” for us after our softball win against Marvel (still have them now) and bought some beer and chips. I then went down to the pool at the Marriott hotel and had a lovely evening with Tom and Audrey Fisher-Price (yes, it’s their real last names).

Thursday morning, I picked up some posters and prints from DH and was also supposed to get a couple hundred Fallen Angel #17 variant pencil covers. They forgot to bring them and never brought them the whole show. I’ll have them ship 50 to Chicago. Heather showed up and we put out all the new lithos (seven I believe). She looked amazing in her new Black Cat costume and we sold a bunch of lithos of her (about 20 all show). She showed up at the booth for a while on Saturday.

Thursday afternoon was the soft ball game. I believe the final score was 18-9. I pitched three innings and while going 1,2,3 in the second and giving up only two runs in the fourth, got beat up in the 6th for another five runs. I was pissed and it was more due to the fact of defensive blunders (aside from Umberto Ramos and John Romita’s hits — I totally blew that) than their hitting. There was a terrible call in the bottom of the 5th where the umpire blew a call that would have ended the inning. He admitted it in the new Hellion For Hire which should be up today. Had the call not gone Marvel’s way, they wouldn’t have scored an additional 4 runs or so and we’d still have the lead and everything would have been different. I did get to bat once and did really well by hitting a bases loaded triple. It would have been a grandslam but I held up do to a slower player in front of me.

Thursday night I met with the Virgin Comics people about them partnering up with Mimi for the film rights. We spoke of doing a 64 page one shot based on the film as well. It was really encouraging but we’ll see what kind of offer is made on it. After drinks Mimi, Kevin Bernhardt and I went out for dinner and discussed story points. Kevin’s working on a treatment and we’ll go on from there for the second draft.

After dinner I was still tired and brought some more beers down to the pool and hung with Tom and Audrey again. Everyone else went to the Hyatt, but I wa beat from working and playing. I did do more writing afterwards in the lobby though.

Friday morning I had a GREAT meeting with Mike Richardson at DH. We’re planning a new series but he too doesn’t want anyone else but me to draw and write the book, so I’m shooting for it to come out next summer with a bunch of other merchandise including a new statue based on either Scott’s Anna Sui piece (but in Shi costume) or the Requiem image.

Friday was extremely busy and I ended up going out with Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Grey, Phil Noto and Dawin Cooke (among others) for a really great steak dinner at Flemmings. Afterwards we all went to the Hyatt and Dan Didio, Mike Marts and I all lamented on how we beat ourselves. Everyone from the game was there and I had a great time with Tony Bedard, Jeff Zapatat, JG Jones and good pal Sparky!

Saturday was madness. In the morning I had a breakfast meeting with a producer from one of Mimi’s financial associates. He works for a Japanese based producer, and it was great talking film and story with him. I’ll have more on that in an upcoming blog. I then left my wallet at the eatery and had to run back the 8 blocks or so to retrieve it. We were sitting outside with all these homeless people around and luckily for me (we were sitting on the outer ring of the eatery) none of them saw the wallet. I was freaking out. As for the con itself, and aside from Heather coming I don’t remember much of it. Afterwards, I went out to dinner with my Jr. High school pal Steve Peros (now a screenwriter soon to be directing his own feature film in September) and my hometown crew. There were some more L.A. based guys there as well (all good chaps), and we were joined by my friends from Greece, Andreas and Nick. We actually went to a Greek resturant (cannot spell that word!) and then if was off for ice cream followed by pipes, cigars and Belgium beer at Dick’s Last Resort. We closed it down and I was exhausted. But it was a great night.

Sunday was great as well and I got to hang out with Kiki (his friend Roy) and Chet (Darkwinter) the whole day. They also all helped me breakdown and at the booth. Chet had to catch a plane, but Kiki, Roy my mom and I all went out for Chinese. I invited them to come with us to take them out for dinner and 5 others invited themselves. Somehow I ended up paying for the self-inviter and wasn’t too happy about that. I was also pissed the we took two friggin bicycle cabs 5 blocks up to the mall and it was $40.00 bucks! I’m not cheap I swear, but damn, the cab ride back was only $3.40!

I got back to the hotel and planned to go to sleep but was restless and went out to the Grafitti designs party. I had a great time with Jimmy, Amanda, Jeff and Vijaya Smith, Terry and Robin Moore, John Cassidy and Paul Jenkins. It was a great night indeed. While I was walking up to the party and still steaming from the bicycle theft and mooching eaters (not Kiki and Roy — the others) I got stopped by some swindler. He told me he was from Canada (I believe him) and said that his wife was waiting up at the hotel (which of course he couldn’t tell them the name) and that they had $3000.00 in travellers checks but for some reason need $7 and change to release them of which I interupted with “ o I have fucking idiot written across my forehead?!” He just turned and walked away.

Monday our flight was great going back home but I was (and stil am) beat! I’m off to Montauk with Debi for her birthday but have to go to the stores to get a bunch of stuff. I’ll bring my ibook with me as well as art boards to do one or two commissions in the morning. Deb likes to sleep late (I don’t) so hopefully I’ll get a lot doen - -No kids!

I just want to thank my mom, Brad (Kiki), Chet (Darkwinter), Roy, Ed Martinez and Karin Weber for all their help — it was a terrific week!

B

Am back and am really tired. I had the best time though. My mom yelled at Sparky, Darkwinter and Solof (among others). She’s really crazy, but I hope they didn’t take it too seriously. I wrote the new Hellion today and am working on the cover to “Return to Wonderland.” I’ve got to finish the treatment I’m doing for DC (2 1/2 issues) and will definitely finish #4 tomorrow. I’m shooting for them all to be done by Friday. Then it’s more commissions (yes, I know who you all are and I’ll be doing them).

As for the show, met with Mimi and Kevin. Also had a great meeting with Mike Richardson. He doesn’t want anyone else but me doing the next Shi series. So I’ll work on it this winter. I’m looking to be done with Rock by February. This way we can release the new Shi come next July. Fingers crossing.

Well, it was great seeing Darkwinter and Kiki and like I said, man am I tired and have lots to do.

Will write more tomorrow.

B