I’ve been working all day, and have made some steady progress on Rock Day Four script. I hope to finish it by Friday. I’ve been in reference mode all day and have been in touch with the son of the commanding officer in the real story. He’s given me so much info that it’s affecting the first three scripts , but it’s all a good though. Got some nice commissions done last week, raked a bunch of leaves and put up my Christmas lights. The lights were done on Sunday, the day after I got smashed on sh Scotch at my neighbors dinner party Saturday night — I don’t remember ANY THING after the soup. Apparently, I wasn’t too bad and quite funny, but my neighbors are big time Scotch drinkers and gave me four plus two glasses of wine. Everyone had fun at my expense and Deb wasn’t angry with me so I guess it’s okay. It was Dewars and Johnny Walker Red so not the good stuff and I think that had something to do with my condition. I thought I was going to die yesterday. I watched Red Dawn today while writing and Enemy at the Gates last night. I was supposed to go into the city to have dinner or a drink with actor Billy Campbell, but really wasn’t in any condition. Plus I want to finish these scripts. I also want to ask my editor Mike Marts for one extra issue for the story — seven all together.

Things have been fine here, but it’s been raining a lot — oh, I also have to read the newest version of the Shi script (Kevin took another stab at it) and we have a meeting on Wednesday with Mimi.

Well until tomorrow evening — Rock On!

And I’m truly sorry. I’ve been working very hard on a variety of projects — though not hard enough and I plan to renew that. With all the family stuff (Matthew’s a handful! ) and that Deb’s energy levels are very low due to the loss of her petuitary gland, travel and comic stuff, I’m a bit tired myself. But I’m getting a gym membership for Christmas — and I hope that will set me back on track. I’ve been loving this Sgt. Rock story and cannot wait to draw it. I’m also having fun with the commissions, but they’re so much work. I’m hard at work at issue 4 script and should finish it by the end of next week. I’ve been in touch with lots of friends and families of the surviviors of the battle and they’ve been just incredible with all the after-action reports, photos and even their help in hooking me up with the actual veterans. I believe there is only one member of the Lost Battalion still alive and I should be talking to him next week. I will write more over the weekend and want to get back to my drawings now. I promise you that when the books are announced early next year and I’m done with the writing I’ll be on a lot more and will be blogging regularly.
I hope all is well with you guys and will write in a day or two!
B

It’s almost 1am and Deb’s downstairs packing up the lithos I’ll be bringing with me to the MCM Expo in London. As usual, I’m stressed but not so much as I cannot wait to get there! Sparky and I have a 7:30 am flight and will arrive about 7pm GMT (Grennwich Mean Time) in London. I believe the folks will be picking us up and it ’s off to the hotel. Hopefully we can hit a pub and get some good ole’ English “comfort food.” I’ve got some commissions and writing to do (well, a lot of writing) on the plane and then all day Friday. I had an opportunity to attend the Arsenal Bolton Wanderers match, but it’s on Saturday at 3pm and since the MCM folks are footing the airfare/hotel and booth, I figure it proper to stay at the show. Oh well, the Gooners are undefeated thus far and it would be great to go, but I guess I’ll just have to wear my kit (jersey) on Saturday to represent!

Well, I’m beat and have to get up at 3:30 and be at Sparky’s at 4:30. I should be able to post on Friday and will let you all know how it’ going.

I cannot wait till Normandy. I’m going Sunday night and will be there until my 11:15pm Ferry back to England on Tuesday. I’ve got my M1942 Para jacket, beret and dog tags. I’m hoping to leave the tags at St. Mere Eglise as I see it as a sort of Mecca to paratroopers. I know the Marines who visit Iwo Jima leave their dogtags on Mt. Surabachi, so if no has done it thus far, why not start a new tradition.

I will miss Deb and the boys desperately! I already do and haven’t left yet!

All the Way!

Billy

Hello All,
It seems that last Tuesday I contacted poison ivy AND had an allergic reacton to Debi’s Thai Food dinner. She used walnut oil and it really hit me hard. It got progressively worse over the next two days and really hindered my work. I was annoyed and agrivated so much that until after finally, my left eye had almost closed from the swelling, my ear was all blown up and I had hives all over my face and neck. I spent Wednesday night in the hospital and was kinda a mess for the next two days, being on all sorts of drugs. I’m still swollen and am waiting to go back to the doctor. I’m pissed because I was hoping to finish my Hellion article and the script to issue #2 this week and will still try. I have a doctor’s appointment today at 5pm and also doctor’s appointment too today. Well, let me get back to work. I’ve been playing with photoshop all morning on one of my Rock drawing’s.
Anyway, let me get back to work. I’ve got too much writing and scratching to do!

Hello everybody! It’s been a very busy period work wise for me. The Rock script is coming along very nicely and I’m now on issue #2. I sent #1 off to John for his review. I’m really proud of it. I had a good photo shoot with Solof on Sunday for the Issue #1. I’m also hoping to set up a shoot for the cover to #3 - Rock and the Tiger Tank. Though I took pics of my Rock (you know who he is — maybe) I didn’t have the bazooka. I might have to pose someone else with it. I’ll just have to see. Anyway, I’ve got a bunch of running around to do, finish the new Hellion today and do 3-5 pages of script.

The trouble with writing from historical events is to keep them interesting to those that aren’t really into all the details. I love the details, but aren’t sure if regular folks would care to know the following German Strength during the battle:

Units Supporting the 7th Regiment at la Haut Jacques:

10th Field artillery
Reconnaissance Company, 601st Tank Destoyer Battalion
Company A, 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion
Company D, 3rd Chemical Battalion (4.2 mortars)
Battery b, 441st Antiaircraft Battalion

German Armored Units Defending Bruyeres Sector
(detached from 21st Panzer Division)
Staff of Panzer Regiment 22
1st Battalion, Pz. Regiment 22 equipped wit h12 Panzer IV tanks
1st Battalion, Pz. Regiment 192, and 1st and 6th Company, Regiment 125, with 2 Panzer Werfer (rocket launchers) and one multiple rocket launcher (Screaming Meemie)

21 Panzer Division Strength in October 1944

19 self-propelled assault guns
19 Panzer IV
14 Panzer V (Panther)
1 to 3 Panzer VI (Tiger)
77 antitank guns (among them six to eight 88mms)

I’ll use this as a basis for the a coming Hellion and will go into much more detail on it. But of course what’s more important in writing this is what you leave out. It must be interesting and exciting, states yours truly, Mr. Obvious.

I’m so sorry for not posting much guys. I’ve been so damn busy researching and writing this Rock book. I’ve had another wonderful photoshoot here yesterday and will post some pics after I remove some files. I will write in my blog tomorrow morning, then my column for Newsarama. I’ll try and keep up the daily blog. Again, I’m sorry, I’ve just been going out of my damn mind with this book but loving every minute of it. We’re trying to put together Zombie-sama! And I’ve got to do that first thing in the morning. I’m also trying to find some “me” time as hunting season has started and I haven’t even take out my bow yet! Jeez! Anyway, that’s what I’m doing first thing, take out the bow and shoot some. Then I’ll try and get a little more Zombie-sama stuff out of the way and it lettered. I’ve then got to contact the printer (and choose one!). We’re also planning a big color Shi book similar to Marvel’s Omnibus line (or whatever it’s called). I’m hoping to keep costs down by getting some of our older books from storage and binding them all together for the big edition.
Anyway, I’m working on Omaha Beach and as usual, the first issue is the hardest, but it’s coming out really, really great!
Talk to you all tomorrow.

Billy

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!