Vantage:Inhouse Productions

Man, What if...?! - Secret Invasion Pt 1

2012-01-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hindsight: the ability to critically look back on an event and judge it's merit, already knowing its outcome. It's the superpower of all Monday-morning Quarterbacks, "Told-you-so-know-it-alls" and yes...even aspiring writers. We [writers] aren't usually so, "I was right"-minded, though. We're much more of the INSPIRED variety, having come across an idea, character or story so insanely cool that we've just got to find a way to be a part of it! In this digital age, we've dubbed it "fan-fiction" and its fruits grow wild throughout the sprawling countryside of the interweb -- self-appointed authors taking the threads from their favorite novels, cartoons, movies and more, weaving tales, sometimes so seamless, you'd swear they were penned by the originator (or, muses willing, even better)! But whether we're exploring an unwritten/forbidden/taboo love affair or simply too attached to let it end, we're fans, showing our love and support with both our wallets AND our voices...and always with the utmost respect...(usually).

So...show of hands -- who here has READ Secret Invasion, the Marvel Comics crossover event of 2009? (Oh wow -- ME TOO!) Now, how many of you DIDN'T like it? (Oh, wow...me too:() In fact, it seems widely regarded that the comic community as a whole wasn't quite feeling it, chalking it up as the precursor of the now infamous term "Event Fatigue" that fanboys have been diagnosed with (sorry, but you CAN'T get disability for that one -- I checked). But what happened?! Coming off the heels of Civil War (2007), Marvel had everyone on pins and needles waiting for the "Next Big Thing" (I now HATE that phrase!!) and the SI premise seemed like a surefire win...but somewhere along the line, it fell a little flat, unformed and stunted from the potential it was born with (and needed). In my opinion (IMO), the fault of that lies squarely with series writer, Brian Michael Bendis -- longtime Marvel scribe who was gleefully directing the Avengers franchise as well as his continuing his historical run on Ultimate Spider-man. Note, mind you -- I LIKE Bendis -- his writing is cool, "hip" and carries a sense of lasting relevance, unlike the dated-culture reference laden scripts of Mark Millar (another writer who I man-crush over). Seriously, Bendis has a lot of favor with me -- he did a little time here in Ohio (he's from Cleveland) and was one of the first professional writers I've ever met (back in 2000 at Mid-Ohio Con). Still, I feel he got in over his head because he EXCELS at character-driven pieces and this was VERY MUCH an event-centric book from the word "GO"! That's just not his thing. But that aside, it just seems that the story lost its way in the details (where God lives), pulling lush nuggets from some aspects of the Marvel archives and neglecting more than a few potent others. With your humble indulgence and hopefully not to the ire of BMB, I present my interpretation of Secret Invasion...read on and enjoy!

I dig the opening, setting the stage on some unknown alien world where we're intro'd to our mastermind of the whole shebang. It's very noir, which Bendis has well-known roots, giving you big, heaping doses of intrigue. But I would've brought it a seen to the stars, transitioning to lone Skrull ship in a slow coast through space -- it's hull grossly damaged and it's crew in absolute peril. With a fervor, they're sending out a desperate SOS call, struggling to keep their ship in one piece as they continue on their collision course with Earth. -- This ship is QUITE important, so remember it!

Draw in on Tony Stark, billionaire playboy, founding Avenger and current head honcho of S.H.I.E.L.D. He's in his latest Iron Man suit, having a tele-screen conference with Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic!), citing their recent encounter with a trio of new Super-Skrulls as reason NOT to trust anyone (New Avengers: Illuminati #5). -- In the series, Tony is having this convo with Reed AND Hank Pym (Yellowjacket), over the body of the deceased Elektra-Skrull, in a confidential, Star Labs location. That just seems strange, as he's talking about NOT knowing who to trust, openly stating that he can't really verify the identity of either person... As usual, Reed is narrowly focused, hellbent to discern just HOW the Skrulls have adapted their shapeshifting to become VIRTUALLY undetectable, even down to brainwaves (Not even Professor-X was aware of the Skrull in their midst during the Illuminati attack!). In a flare of near-arrogance, he assures Tony that he can handle himself (He IS fantastic) and says he's sure what he's doing in enlisting the aid of Dr. Pym, who has done research on copy-n-pasting brainwaves (see Ultron). Here, Tony presses harder asking if Reed is SURE THAT'S HANK PYM?? At the tailend of Civil War, the Young Avengers member, Hulkling (who's half-Skrull btw), masqueraded as Pym long enough to turn the tide of a pivotal fight -- that's precedent and certainly something Tony (and Reed for that matter) should recall!

Zipping out to space, we're on the S.W.O.R.D. space station, The Peak, where agent Abigail Brand is meeting Commander Dugan (whose really a Skrull in disguise -- but we already knew that!). As the story states, it's kind of a meet-and-greet of sister agencies (S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D.), but the festivities get cut short when THEY register the appearance of a Skrull ship entering Earthspace and belting out an SOS (See, told you it was important)! -- Here's another example of a planning flaw -- there IS a ship on a crash-course for Earth and S.W.O.R.D. DOES detects it, but...(*Spoiler Warning*) it's NEVER explained WHY that ship is coming!! It's seriously one of those wonton plot devices that seems thrown in for NO apparent reason. Moving on, Agent Brand does her due diligence and issues an immediate alert for S.H.I.E.L.D. director, Tony Stark. And as expected, as the World's Top Cop, he's on the case immediately, plotting a course for the Savage Land (following the Skrull ship's trajectory).

En route, Tony comms Spider-Woman, whose idly waiting at Avengers Tower -- he's NOT calling for an AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!, as he does in the series (Wait, what?! I thought he said he didn't know who to trust -- how does he know his Avengers team hasn't been infiltrated...??), instead telling her that she's opened up Pandora's Box by bringing him the Elektra-Skrull. He's playing this one SUPER close to the vest, not telling her about the incoming Skrull ship or the Illuminati attack (they're not supposed to know about the Illuminati anyway), but demands SW stays put until he gets back. As the call ends, Spider-Woman comments on Stark seeming..."distracted", and is approached by Jarvis, Stark's personal man-servant. With a simple "A message for you...Ma'am," he gives her a folded note, then stands aside, attentively waiting her reaction. She demands to know when the message came through and he continues ever calmly, "Just now." Assured, she grabs the nearest phone and starts dialing...on the other end is the renegade New Avengers team.

Spider-Woman lays out a pretty sound theory: A skrull invasion has seemingly been happening under their noses, that she's recently found out through a S.H.I.E.L.D. contact (she's a former agent AND double-agent of Hydra) that a Skrull ship has crashlanded in the Savage Land, Stark knows and IS NOT calling in the Avengers, but heading to check it out on his own. -- Considering the roll he played in the Civil War saga, there's been a looming animosity towards the New Avengers and Iron Man. This explanation puts everything into a very clear and plausible perspective: Tony Stark is a Skrull! And it's all the convincing Luke and the gang need to suit up and hitch a ride, via Cloak to the Savage Land. -- Maybe I'm just being sensitive, but it seems SOOOO stereotypical (and lame) for the team lead by the BLACK DUDE to essentially steal a car! C'mon, if the Cloak could port A BUNCH of heroes from the Negative Zone, SURELY, he could manage porting down to the SL?! And they banter about Starks ability to shutdown the Quinjet along the way -- totally unnecessary and shouldn't even have been a consideration!

Back at Avengers Tower, Spider-Woman makes another phone call, this time addressing herself as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, Jessica Drew and calling in for the location and IMMEDIATE backup for Director Stark. She insists on accompanying and leaves to be picked up from the roof!

In the deep, time-forgotten jungles of the Savage Land, Tony Stark arrives at the crash site, finding the Skrull ship still in pretty good condition. He secures the perimeter before coming in for a landing, intent to investigate further. He's scans for lifeforms, but finds the Skrull tech able to keep even HIS level out -- with no choice, he's gotta go hand-on, repulsor-blasting an opening through the ship's hull. But as he peels back it's metal to gain entrance, his armor goes wild announcing incoming bodies -- he reels around to be met by the New Avengers team, already free of Cloak's extention (himself already fading into the ether) and ready whup Tony for the lowdown dirty Skrull he is! Can you say SNIKT?!

Come back soon as we pick up with a guaranteed sloberknocker of a fight -- IRON MAN vs THE NEW AVENGERS!! Will Luke Cage finish what Capt. America started?! Hopefully you're enjoying this bit of re-imagining! Feel free to drop a comment or two and let me know!!

BRING IT ON, 2012!!! PART TWO

2012-01-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Man-o-man! Look at what V:IP is bringing to the party this year!! It's the beginning of the V:IP33 and you're about to get your first taste of what's to come!

Pi: Mathematic Monk: The Quest to become Infinite Master BEGINS HERE! Follow the weekly adventures of Pi, an earnest, young monk dedicated to mastering the Mathematic Arts, protecting the planet from deadly threats, and earning the title of Infinite Master! If you're a fan of Adventure Time and/or Dragon Ball Z --YOU'LL LOVE THIS!
Written by Victor Dandridge
Art by Victor Dandridge
#Action/Adventure, #Edu-tainment, #V:IP33

Man, What if...?! -- Secret Invasion: Part One of a 3pt fan-fiction series exploring "rewrites" of the major crossover events from Marvel Comics (circa 2008-2010). First up is Secret Invasion, which found Marvel's superheroes confronted by an invading army from the Skrull Empire.
Written by Victor Dandridge
#Action/Adventure, #V:IP33,

Wonders of the Great Beyond -- "It Came from Space" #2: The Wonder family reassesses their plan of attack against the mysterious, glowing orb. Can they discover its secrets in time to save the city or is this siege merely the beginning to greater peril!
Written by: Victor Dandridge
Art by: Victor Dandridge
#Action/Adventure, #V:IP33

The Villain: The Villain finds the world's WORST criminal -- a truly sadistic, bastard with a predilection for brutality -- suddenly experiencing an epiphany and wanting to change his ways. But when he ventures to tell his nemesis that he's out of the game, his congenial gesture is met with abrupt VIOLENCE. Loosely inspired by Nemesis (Mark Millar/Steve McNiven), this is a rock and roll ride with a CRAZY ending!
Written by Victor Dandridge
Art by Miguel Barriga
#Action/Adventure, #Suspense, #V:IP33

8 Bit Art Book: Featuring everything from comic characters, cartoons and more -- this book represents my exploration into the world of pixel art. Get your hands on this FIRST volume, collecting these fan-favorite 8 Bit designs!
Art by Victor Dandridge
#Artbooks, #V:IP33

Grand Commander - Accidental Godhood: An ancient cosmic power, foretold to return to a sacred culture in their time of need, makes a detour, bestowing its might to an unlikely Earthling. It's the Phoenix Force meets Lord of the Rings in this online novel -- updating WEEKLY at www.vipwebcomics.blogspot.com!!

The U Cre-8 Line is getting a SUPER BOOST! New products are on the cusp of rolling out -- pieces geared towards drawing, writing and more! One of the oldest forms of entertainments is now the classrooms GREATEST ally! Look for more U Cre-8 news HERE!

BRING IT ON, 2012!!! PART ONE

2012-01-02T16:07:00.001-08:00

Welcome Back! I hope the past holiday season brought merriment and joy to you and yours! Can't say I've ever had a holiday I didn't love, but now that the celebrations are over, its back to work and LOTS of it! First I wanna thank you all for being SOOO supportive of Vantage:Inhouse in our first year of publication! Your love and support made 2011 worth doing and we're gonna show you how much it means with the loads more of AWESOME COOL that're in store...and speaking of which -- let's look at what's on the menu!!

The V:IP33

Last year, I attempt to release 15 different projects under the V:IP label. The goal was to breakout without with a resume unmatched by most indie publishing platforms -- and you know what, I FAILED -- MISERABLY! Haha! I only managed about 5 projects, but I've been assured by my chums that that's an acceptable first year for a lot of creators. But acceptable ISN'T good enough for me -- so this year, I'm UPPING THE ANTE! I've designated 33 projects for production!! Now, that might see asinine, but raising the stakes seems more complimentary of my abilities than setting a lower one. It'll certainly be a challenge, but I know I can do it -- for no other reason than my friends at Twilight Star did it! With production already underway, I've added some of the first quarter's release schedule to my Google Calendar -- Check it out and see what's on the horizon!

8 Bits

After the WONDERFUL reception my 8 Bit designs have received this past year, I've decided to open up commissions for new pieces! Whether its new versions of old pieces, or maybe your own characters, you can now get custom designs done for the LOW PRICE of $1 per sq inch (plus shipping)! BUT WAIT -- THERE'S MORE!!! In addition to the commissions, I'll be taking to Twitter every Wednesday to see who YOU think should receive the 8 Bit treatment! Just hit me with your suggestions with the hashtag #IWANTMY8BIT, which will be completed that Friday! And if I choose YOUR suggestion, you'll win a FREE 8 BIT COMMISSION*!!! In the meantime, you can checkout the growing collection on my Tumblr page

That's just the start! There's a PLENTY more to share and I'm more excited than you know, so check back soon to learn more! Here's to you, 2012 -- BRING IT ON!!!

*Commission prizes will be offered via email, but you can request a print copy for only the cost of shipping!

Buy it again for the first time!

2011-12-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Fans of THE SAMARITAN -- the NEW Collected Edition IS NOW AVAILABLE!!! Debuting the 3rd chapter ("The Fix"), this edition also boasts a remastered, COLORED version of the first issue, "Moving Day!" Get your copy for only $5.50+s from INDYPLANET.COM!!

Good Creator vs. a Black Creator pt 2

2011-11-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

So with the disappointment of the narrow voice black comics held, seemingly unable to create something new or NON-stereotypical, I shifted my focus BACK to comics, in general. It wasn't a hard transition as the general mainstream, was what brought me into the form in the first place -- PLUS, if there was an absolute need to connect my ethnicity to it, there was a ripe cache of characters to fit the bill: Steel, Bishop, Maggot, Shard, etc...

But my specific focus was on developing my artistic STYLE. That was definitely something that stuck from fanning over Stroman's work -- he had a specific style and at that time, I was becoming more aware of what that meant, not just in being able to determine WHO did the specific art, but the beginnings of gleaning why it worked or didn't work. So bring on Roger Cruz, Humberto Ramos (Crimson-era when he had a little more reserve in his work), Joe Madueria, Chris Sprouse, Dan Jurgens, John Romita, Jr. and more...I wanted to grow as an artist and picking apart the talents of these superstars seemed to be the best start. It also didn't hurt enrolling at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, an alternative high school with a focus on the visual and performing arts. And that's where things took an amazing LEAP forward.

Forgive my fuzzy memory, as I can't quite remember how we found out about it, but in Shot Tower, our main art building (the school was essentially a campus with 5 separate buildings) there was a working gallery that would house various exhibits throughout the year. On this particular occasion during my freshman year, they were showcasing the work of the school's alumni and sitting right there, just as appreciated as Expressionist paintings and life-model illustrations was the work of comic artist, Darryl Banks! Like I said, I don't remember all the details, but I can tell you there were MANY lunch periods skipped with me just STARING at his work.

I mean, this was the first time I had even SEEN live comic book art! Sure there were the occasional sketches in comic magazines or as promotions in upcoming series (like the Fatal Attractions ads for the 30th anniversary of Uncanny X-Men), but never before had I seen the original works -- able to understand the use of the Blueline board and its myriad of lines. And more than that -- he was GOOD! I mean, REALLY GOOD! Great line work, establishing shadows, moving the eye along the page, capturing emotions in body language and facial expressions. Instantly and without question, I became a fan. He carried textbook draftsmanship with a creative flair, he was black (which I think I was told prior to meeting him) AND with that, he didn't pigeonhole himself into doing BLACK COMICS, with a healthy resume of mainstream titles. But more than all that -- he was tangible. I had never been to a convention at this point, so Darryl was truly the FIRST professional comic artist I had ever met.

I think I bought every piece of work I could find with Darryl's name on it! Even the Christoper Hart drawing kit he worked on (and I still have)! He became a mentor, guide and hero, however subtly over the next few years, taking a role I had kind of loss with the passing of my uncle. Though I didn't directly study under him or anything, he influenced my art and creative thinking and made me one of the coolest kids in college when he visited and showed that he knew me. It was in reference to Darryl that I wrote this article, when a friend of mine asked if I was allowing for myself to be the possible mentor for others that Darryl became to me. He pointed out that there are so few blacks in the comic community and fewer still that have attained true notoriety for their work and that maybe, with even the nominal success I've achieved, I could sort of represent this new faction of black creators to young artists who, like me at one time, had no clue as to how many of "us" there are.

So, both in honor of my friend (Danny Cooper of Mutant Cactus, btw), Darryl Banks, ALL of the black creators who came before me and those I hope to inspire -- I will no longer SIMPLY aim to be a good creator, but I will also celebrate being a black one. It doesn't mean that I have to make black comics, featuring ALL/MAJORITY-black characters (The Trouble w/Love, Spectrum), but it doesn't mean I can't either (The Samaritan, Hotshot). What it specifically means is I can create whatever comic I want and that ideally, anyone and everyone can enjoy them.

Thanks for reading...!

Good Creator vs. a Black Creator pt 1

2011-11-10T06:42:00.001-08:00

"Society says, that by the time you're 16, you'll either be dead or in jail..."

This was the sentiment my mother shared with me at or around my twelfth birthday. It was a harsh conceit to be told at such a "young" age, to be sure, especially coming from the woman who nurtured and raised me. But harsher still is the absolute truth of that reality, growing up a black male in the early/mid 1990's. We (black youths in general, but especially the males) were reckless and violent back then -- which I don't say with the intent of marking it as the worst of times, but it was enough that people ACTUALLY SAID that black males should be put on the endangered species list. It was in our music, in our movies and had become the standard for which ALL black males would be judged...even me, a fact my mother was simply getting me hip to, so that I'd understand what I was up against, both from the outside world's perspective and hers (she'd kill me before she let me mess up enough to face jail!).

Luckily, my mother and I were of the same accord about proving that standard WRONG. I had already been introduced to the world of comics with the release of the Death of Superman arc, and in dedication to my Uncle Mark, one of my first and best comic art teachers (who was a grown man killed by non-black teens, btw), I had decided that making comics was my career goal. But scarcely did the two goals intersect. As a young black reader of comics, I had a few character notables that I could "call my own" -- the mutant goddess of the elements (Storm), her future-husband, Avenger and king of Wakanda (Black Panther), the Superman-inspired, folk-lore named engineer (Steel) and a tiara-toting, hired hero (Luke Cage) *There were PLENTY MORE black heroes, but these were some of the first that sprang to mind!* As a black comic creator, though, the road was a little less traveled.

My first introduction into black creators came with Todd Johnson and Larry Stroman's Tribe. While I had unknowingly been a fan of Stroman's work from his run on Marvel's X-Factor (because of him it was YEARS before I could appreciate Neal Adam's design for Havok's costume), I didn't know he was black until my uncle Byron met him at a signing, hyping Tribe's initial release through Image Comics. He came back with a few things he graciously parted to me, one of which was a signed magazine,encouraging ME to keep drawing!

And the impact of these black creators doing black comics featuring black characters wasn't lost on me, either. I revamped ALL of the comic characters I had been developing, taking a hard-nosed, "Black is Phat" stance, like I needed to legitimize myself at only 11yrs old (to be fair, this was in the midst of the New-X era, where X hats and Africa-patch necklaces were the norm-- if you were socially conscious, that is...). Mutant Society became Black Street (yes, off of the R&B group), and even their costumes looked more like bastardized versions of Stroman's X-Factor uniforms (they really were that sweet though!). I took it as my personal duty to create a black voice in the comic book world and I wasn't alone.

The Milestone Universe was truly that, an EPIC milestone in the way of giving not just African-Americans, but most minorities, a voice in the world of comics. Published as an autonomous, sister-imprint of DC Comics (I know, right?! Even then, I knew it was something rather remarkable for one of "The Big Two" to do this), Milestone was spearheaded by creators Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle, creating FUBU'd (For Us, By Us) renditions of some of comics' most icon properties: Icon (Superman), Static (Spider-Man), Hardward (Iron Man) and Blood Syndicate (X-Men). At the time, I wasn't a frequent comic shop goer, so I wasn't in the habit of getting new comics on a weekly basis or being introduced to new titles, so I only had a smattering of issues from Milestones initial launch and of them, my favorite was certainly Icon. It seemed to be the only one that took being a racially motivated derivative seriously enough to comment on it, which I appreciated. It didn't hide under the pretext of being something new, but was something true and honest. But that honesty really shot me in the foot with the title, Blood Syndicate.

Society had painted a target on my back as young black male and the most proficient epidemic to enact its judgement was gang life. Color coded flags signified everything about you, from your gang affiliation (a term I only understood as far as superhero teams were concerned) to what side of town you lived/were from, to who your enemies were. It was part of the existence that I strove to escape in leaps and bounds and through Blood Syndicate, it found its way into my refuge. This book wasn't about a TEAM of superheroes, it was about a GANG of superhumans, who operated out of self-interest and a loathing contempt for anyone they deemed a rival. They flashed hand-signs -- ACTUAL GANG HAND-SIGNS on the cover of the first issue! How was this supposed to appeal to ME?

I was pissed off as a reader and dismayed as a creator -- was this what it meant to make "black comics?" Why did it have to be one of the worst occurrences in our community that was exploited on the page? Couldn't we have focused on the civil servants of times gone? Perhaps I was riding a soapbox or maybe I was onto something, either way, I abandoned the notion with prejudice of making "black comics," converting Black Street into the multiculturally endowed team, Genesis.

*To be continued...

Looking back...

2011-10-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

I pride myself on how far I'm willing to reach for success. This month I celebrated completing my first year of full-time self-publishing. It's a been a fun, bumpy, uncertain and exhilarating ride that I'm so much MORE than grateful that I've had the opportunity to take! And I'm even more excited to say that the ride ISN'T OVER! As I plow headlong into YEAR TWO, I want to get things rolling strong and in order to do that, I've gotta take a solid look at what I've done (or haven't done) throughout this past year. So let's take a look...

I certainly aimed my ambition high this year when I decided that I was going to attempt to publish FIFTEEN different projects this year. Mind you, I gave myself the backdoor that they didn't have to all be finished, but at least, to some degree, released to the public. Of the 15 titles I had in mind, only about 7 got any work done on them and of that 7, only about 4 were put before the public eye. While I'm certainly not proud of not hitting my goal, quite a few of my peers have assured me that getting THAT MUCH work out in a calendar year (well, technically, I didn't give myself a full year...) is still rather impressive.

Being honest, I really have myself to blame for dropping the ball, artistically. I had a plan to draw a few of the projects and I TOTALLY punked out! That's DEFINITELY a hangup that I'm looking to get over in this new year. I've been timid in my art skills, but that's a foolhardy excuse -- I know there's no better way to get over that than to do more work, but I took EVERY convenient measure to not have to. I know...shame on me.

There were a few bouts of poor time management mixed in there -- I had NO IDEA how time consuming the summer reading club was going to be. Don't get me wrong, it was a LOAD of fun and the U Cre-8 line was VERY WELL RECIEVED, but it took about 3-4hrs each time with travel, prep and the actual presentation. If I operated with a general 8-9hr work day, that was a third to half of it each time. Way too much time away from the creating table.

I did manage to hit 12 conventions this year, which I can say is an ALL-TIME record for me. It's helped tremendously at building the brand of V:IP, gaining visibility in a lot of places outside of my usual haunts. What's shocked me the most is how conventions have responded to the U Cre-8 line, making it a feature of their kid's oriented events. I owe alot to my extended appearances to it and can't wait to develop that even further. Along with that is getting A LOT of mileage out of my 8 Bit designs. Those things have been my most popular feature and I'm proud of my ability to recognize and capitalize on them, with a bunch of products ranging from prints, trading cards, buttons, stickers and posters. Even the 8 Bit challenge is gaining some notoriety, a big crowd getter when its displayed!

What I've started to do is integrate more information about the comics side of V:IP. With the 8 Bits standing on their own rather well, I want to see how well I can pull in the other things and get more face time as a publisher. I think I've got some great ideas to get it done and most will be implemented throughout 2012.

So overall, I'd give V:IP a C+/B- grade for its first year. There were definitely some things that I could've done better and I'm adamantly looking for ways to accomplish that! Stick around and see how I do next year!

Checking in...

2011-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Things are always moving over here at V:IP! Post NYCC has seen pitches sent out to two prominent publishers with some great nods in response. I've teamed up with my friends at Mutant Cactus, sharing their booth at Mid-Ohio Con (I know, I know -- I said I wouldn't do another Wizard World show after the fiasco of WWChicago, but they're my friends and they were gracious enough to food the bill!), and have launched a new webseries, Origins Unknown with artist, Jacob Newell! And any of you regular visitor may note that all of this is being done WHILE upgrading our webpage!! It feels good to be so busy!

So please forgive our dust and I hope you've enjoyed the changes made thus far -- I'm always open to feed back of every kind!

Living Dead Things -- Run For Your Lives EXCLUSIVE!!

2011-10-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

In honor of the AWESOME 5K meets obstacle course meets zombies event, Run For Your Lives (www.runforyourlives.com), I did an updated version of the Living Dead Things prelude that will be handed out to participants and possibly added as part of the prize packs. And for all you zombie heads taking part, this version features a variant cover, EXCLUSIVELY FOR Run For Your Lives! Check it out below! And if you're going, I hope you remember the rules to survive a Zombie(land) invasion, have tight laces and that you have a blast!!!

Living Dead Things
Created by Victor Dandridge
Vantage:Inhouse Productions
Ashcan features special ads for Burdened Vessel and Mutant Cactus!

Origins Unknown: Breaking the Habit pt1

2011-10-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

I'm coming off of an AMAZING time at this years NYCC! I got to hang out with some of my most talented friends and even made a few more! (There's a possible happening that's a little too early to talk about, but a GREAT NOD for the two main books of the V:IP roster!) And while the site construction is about to begin, I wanted to kick off this visual renewal with the first page of V:IP's new webseries, ORIGINS UNKNOWN, featuring the artwork of Jacob Newell! I'm putting my hardhat back on and diving into this workload, but you stay put and enjoy!

Visit 31DayzofZombies!!!

2011-10-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

Beautifully talented, fellow zombie aficionado whom I share a darling baby girl, Adrianna Kimbrough is taking the month of October to showcase her love of zombies with her new site: 31DayzofZombies Exploring how zombies have INFESTED every corner of pop culture, from movies and television to comics and classical literature, 31DayzofZombies is a VIRAL OUTBREAK gone GREAT! Run(for yourlives) on over to see the featured daily article and SINK YOUR TEETH into the open discussion of favorite movies and zombie characters...and hurry! It's a matter of life and LIVING DEATH!!!

And guess what?! She's even brought ME into the mix! Today marks the webcomic debut of my extended edition promo for Living Dead Things -- which will also be a feature at the Zombie-inspired 5k obstacle race, Runforyourlives! Come back EVERY WEDNESDAY to see the newest page!

On the Horizon!

2011-10-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

This Saturday (10/7), the boys from Mutant Cactus and I head west to Indiana to tag team the Hoosier State with buttons, prints, trading card and more! I'm not quite sure where we'll be set up, but we're in a booth (OOOOOH!) and will PROBABLY be having the most fun in the building!

In addition to that, THE U CRE-8 COMICS line will be on hand! At 1pm, I'll be hosting a LIVE PRESENTATION of my acclaimed U Cre-8 Comics Character Crafter workbook! So if you have kids interested in creating comics, BRING 'EM (parents you're welcome to come too) and we'll see what kind of characters you'll create! Check the site for directions and entrance fees!

I've been going 8 BIT CRAZY 'round here, busting out new designs DAILY! I'm working on creating full sets and already have more than 12 that I'm sure fans are gonna go APE OVER! Including, my first major break from mainstream characters of Marvel & DC: THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!!!

Coming up right on the heels of Kokomo...

Also on the horizon is a MAJOR facelift of the site, courtesy of Danny Cooper of Mutant Cactus -- we're going to give things a much needed boost and make this site a better hub for all things V:IP!

As usual, there's plenty going on and I hope you all are enjoying the ride as much as I am!!!

It Came From My Brain...!!!

2011-09-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

The collection is growing! I'm SUCH a geek about these, that I'll probably do them FOREVER!!! Hahaha!!! So I present these recent pieces AND a sneak peek at what my NEXT SET are gonna be ;)

The Hank Pym Collection: Ant-Man, Yellow Jacket, Giant Man and Goliath

Uncanny X-Force: Wolverine, Psylocke, Fantomex, Deadpool and Archangel

I don't REALLY have to say it, do I...?

...Like its 1975...

2011-09-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the ENTIRE Giant-Sized X-Men roster! This is one of the FIRST full sets that will be available for collection and I'm SOOOOO excited about it!!! Who will be the first to get it?! Will it be you?! I HOPE SO!!!!

National Comic Book Day?! (No really...)

2011-09-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked what I was doing for National Comic Book Day by an elementary school teacher and when I revealed I had never heard of the occasion, she showed me this link: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/comicbookday.htm -- Not wanting to let an opportunity go by, I spoke with my friends at ComicTown (1249 Morse Rd) and we've decided to celebrate it anyway! So come on down (up or over) to Comic Town and see local talents from Vantage:Inhouse Productions, Mutant Cactus, Freestyle Komics and more on site and having fun!!! SEE YOU THERE!

National Comic Book DaySunday Sept. 25th 2011 Comic Town1249 Morse RdColumbus, OH 4322911am-6pmADMISSION IS FREE!

Wonderfully Marvelous!

2011-09-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

The 8 Bit collection is growing strong, now with the additions of Wonder Man and Ms. Marvel! I'm but 3 designs away from having a full roster for the Avengers, Avengers West Coast and The MIghty Avengers! Time to get back to work and make that happen!!!Wonder Man:(Villainous 1st Appearance),"Dapper-Dan" Overcoat,Sleeveless Vest w/Ion Packs,Ion pack-less t-shirt style,Ionic Awesomeness -- (my personal FAVE!)Ms. Marvel:1st Appearance,As Binary,The red-sash of AWESOMENESS!

The Trading Cards are READY!!!!

2011-09-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

It ONLY took TWO DAYS to resize and compile them all, but the 8 bit trading cards are ready to go! Running 2.5x3.5, they fit PERFECTLY into classic baseball card sleeves, so you can COLLECT THE WHOLE SET!!! Here is one of the sheets I've put together:

And there are some NEW EDITIONS to the mix: JUBILEE AND BISHOP!!! Now the X-men Blue and Gold Teams are finally COMPLETE!!!!

Recappin'!

2011-09-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

Cincinnati Comic Expo was an ABSOLUTE BLAST! Had a great time, rubbing elbows with some TREMENDOUSLY talented people, comic fans and general AWESOMENESS! Its definitely a show I would encourage you to visit, both fan and creator alike!

On a personal note, this was an EXCELLENT show for me, business-wise! As usual, the 8 Bits were my focus and my array of products were VERY well received!!! I think I've finally hit my stride on how to present most of the pieces, though there are a few changes coming down the pike. The buttons are CERTAINLY a crowd favorite (shout out to Mutant Cactus!) and will be the center piece of all that I offer from here on out. I also am going to make SPECIAL AWARD BUTTONS for those who succeed at the 8 Bit Challenge (I'm thinking for the remainder of the year, it'll be the oversized GALACTUS button!), but I'm going to start making a scheduling list for when the challenge takes place - just to keep the flow moving throughout the day!Hmmm...what else can I reveal...ah yes -- the 8 Bits will be made available in trading/sketch card size and grouped into sets, making it easier to collect your favorite character versions and/or teams. For you art-centric folks out there...I'll be offering the quarter-sized prints of 8 Bits, all matted and professional like, as ready-to-hang art. And my BIGGEST new feature will be CUSTOM 8 BIT SKETCHES!!!! I can't wait to bring some of these newbies into the fold -- I think you guys will LOVE 'EM! Oh yeah...I was feeling a little ANXIOUS for the show Friday night, and I know of no better way to assuage my angst than to do MORE 8 BITS! So...thats what I did!

So now added to the mix are DEX-STARR (the Red Lantern CAT!!!), MOGO (the Green Lantern planet -- NOT to be confused with Oa, where the Guardians live) and CARNAGE!

Cincinnati Comic Expo is THIS WEEKEND!!!

2011-09-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

Come join some of comic-dom's finest as we take over the Southern City, this Saturday from 10-5:30pm at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, OH! And for the first time EVER -- Da 'Nati gets the V:IP TREATMENT! I only visited this show last year and the action was too good to miss out on this go round! So come find me at TABLE 61, where I'll be showcasing 8 Bits and previewing what's coming down the pike at Vantage:Inhouse Productions! Also in attendance will be The Samaritan artist, Ren McKinzie (table 61) and friends with benefits, Mutant Cactus (table 64)! We'll be kicking up dust and making some noise, so come on down and have a good time with us!!!Cincinnati Comic ExpoDuke Energy Convention Ctr525 Elm StCincinnati, OH 45202VIP Admission - $50 (I didn't CHARGE them for the use of that!)General Admission - $10Kids 10 and under are FREE!!!

It's FINALLY Ready!

2011-09-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

The Samaritan: Collected Edition vol 1 is NOW AVAILABLE exclusively through Indyplanet.com!This collected edition carries previously released chapters "Moving Day" and "Gossip", as well as the premiere of the premiere of "The Fix," the third chapter of this critically acclaimed series. Follow Smith as he continues his efforts to fix the world, one block at a time!

The Samaritan Collected Edition vol 1Written by Victor DandridgeArt by Ren McKinzie28pgs B/W Print Copy: $5.50 USD Digital Copy: $2.99 USD Exclusively thru Indyplanet.com

Busy Little Bee

2011-09-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

They say there's no country for old men...or is it rest for the wicked...either way, I've been using this weekend to put a serious DENT on my growing worklist! The first thing on the list is ORIGINS UNKNOWN -- a new project I'm working on with Jacob Newell of Banebrooke Studios! I whipped up this trailer just to drum up a little noise about it -- can't wait to scratch it off the V:IP 15!

I've also done a few more 8 Bits, finally reaching (well technically, I've gone over it) my goal of 200 designs! The last of the batch are Professor X and the Punisher, but I was asked to do Nomad as a special request.

And last but not least -- GALACTUS, THE DEVOURER OF WORLDS! This piece is a special one because its making its print debut at Champion City Comic Con (the show that started the 8 Bit-a-thon) as part of the auction for JOSH MEDORS! He's an AWESOME artist who is suffering from a rare form of cancer and all the proceeds from the auction will go towards his SURPLUS of medical bills. Though I don't know him that well, I want to do all I can to help a fellow creator in need! So, if you make it out to the show, bring some extra cash for a GREAT cause!

Behind the Curtain...

2011-08-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peeks at what's going on in The Samaritan #3 as well as my process for writing it! With The Samaritan using a form of the 9 panel grid system, its IMPERATIVE that I know where each image piece is going to go, so I can suggest to Ren [McKinzie] where they're to go to construct the larger picture. Having a background in art helps TREMENDOUSLY, giving me the tools I need to lay out the ideas in little thumbnail sketches. Once these are in place, I know both what the panel groups are going to be and what actions I've dictated within. Then its off to script -- this one, I can't really show ya (the books not even out yet!), but part of my process DOES include reading the dialogue aloud and acting parts of it out -- hope my neighbors don't mind! When I've gotten the script pretty much locked in, I do a visual guide that I'll send along with it. I use color coding to show which panels go together, painting a better picture for Ren to base things off of.

(This one is from issue #1)The end result is SUPER AWESOMENESS!!!!

SPECTRUM Character Sketches

2011-08-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the character designs I've started for SPECTRUM! I seriously CAN'T WAIT to see artist, Yusuf Lateef's rendition of them -- I know he's going to add some AMAZING flavor to the mix!

*Done with Sketchbook Pro on my iPad

Definitely good time, def-definitely a good time!

2011-08-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

The CR love CONTINUES! I had a GREAT time kickin' it with Bill Gladman and Frank Raynor for ep#45 of The Raynman Power Hour-- we joked hard and laughed harder! C'mon and listen to the fun and have a laugh with us! ENJOY!

First -- Signed -- YOURS!!!

2011-08-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

Be the first to get The Samaritan: Collected Edition vol 1 -- SIGNED by series creators Victor Dandridge (writer) and Ren McKinzie (artist). Featuring the previously released, first two chapters ("Moving Day" and "Gossip"), as well as the debut of the third chapter, "The Fix". Available ONLY on Ebay!!!

The Samaritan: Collected Edition
Written by Victor Dandridge
Art by Ren McKinzie
Black & White 28pgs
Published by Vantage:Inhouse Productions

ITS OFFICIAL!!!

2011-08-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

I kicked off my full-time comic booking venture with a trip to NYCC as a fan, so it's with the GREATEST pride that I return just ONE YEAR LATER as a PRESENTER! Yesterday I got my CONFIRMATION that I'm going to be a panelist for the Kids Day Event at New York Comic Con this October! The U Cre-8 Line is taking Manhattan like The MUPPETS! So, BRING THE FAMILY and let's make some comics together!

New York Comic Con
Oct. 13-16th
Javitz Center
655 34th St
New York, NY 10001

Panel: U Cre-8 Comics
When: Oct. 16th, 2011
Time: 4-5pm
Where: Rm: 1B03

How could I have forgotten to post this..?!

2011-08-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Spurred by my good friend, Lee Newman, the good folks at Comicbooked did a piece on Vantage:Inhouse! Jacques Nyemb was an EXCELLENT interviewer and a newfound friend (and is going to be a new father -- CONGRATS, sir!) and we had a great time chatting it up. You can read about it here!

Relating Relations

2011-08-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Guess who was the guest on this week's installment of the Related Recap?! That's right, I sat down with my GREAT friend Chuck Moore of ComicRelated and chatted up my history with comics, what I'm doing with V:IP and some more comic booky goodness. Follow the jump and take a listen!

TEASER THURSDAY!!!

2011-08-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

The House of Ideas is GREAT at producing thought provoking teasers for upcoming series and events and that's a quality I'm going to emulate to the best of my ability! So consider this the first installment of "Teaser Thursday" where I'm going to showcase something from an upcoming project! I'm going to give away prizes to anyone who can call where the inspiration for these teasers came from -- so PAY ATTENTION!!!!

I'm sure I don't have to say how much I LOVE this project! Its been more than a pleasure working with Harold Edge and Ryan Carter and I'm eagerly looking for new opportunities to work with them both!

This project is like a childhood dream come true! I working with Yusuf Lateef and Darryl Banks, two artists who I have admired FOR YEARS!! I can't wait for this one to blow you guys away!!!

I did...so hopefully you won't have to...THE CONCLUSION!

2011-08-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

Without question, I was upset about the supposed "miscommunication" that lead me to Chicago for naught, but let me point out what I deem THE REAL ISSUE to be: A total and complete lack of customer service! Whether you agree that I had the go-head for the show or think I did presume too much, the bottom line is that I was THERE! Worst case scenario (for me) is that I was so OVERZEALOUS about getting to work with you (Wizard) that I hop-skipped 6 hours, survived Chicago traffic (just how fast do you have to go to get a ticket there?) and spent more than I should have, to do so -- I say REWARD that kind of aspiration! With all the negative intonations floating out there about the company (the mainstream publishers have abandoned the Wizard World shows, being scooped up by rival promoter, ReedPOP and their print magazine folded after nearly 20 years of publication), you'd think they'd be all about someone who was so all about them, right?!

Perhaps if it was MY idea to attend Chicago, I wouldn't feel so chided...my pitch to them was open for any Wizard show, but I did specify that I'm in Columbus, OH, home of the Mid-Ohio Con that they purchased just last year. Why not offer to set me up at my local show to make things square, we could've worked out whatever arrangements "C" had in mind right then and there. Now, to be honest, nothing short of a free-space would've flown for that show, but I'm saying...

And even if you couldn't appease me as creator, see if you can reach me as a fan -- see if offering me free passes to the Chicago show doesn't tap my geek-gasm button a few times (yeah...it would have!). And how far my voice would've spread singing their praises for such an magnanimous display if they did both! But alas, and all that -- their best offering was for me to drop a car payment or rent (depending on where you are in life) to attend. For my money, that offering is MUCH too little and certainly too late!

Still, things weren't a total loss! Mom and I headed for the city, walking Michigan Ave so many times that the "Magnificent Mile" was more of a half-marathon. We hit the AMC by the shore (I'm only $16 away from my $10 freebies!) to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes (this was Mom's first time, my third -- seriously, the movie's THAT GOOD!) and enjoyed the rude service of Ed Debevic's, whose slogan is "Eat and Get Out!" But this was a good trip even on a business level. I'm very pro-contract and this weekend has shown me that they're necessary even when dealing with corporate entities. I'm currently working on my own verbiage for one that I'll send along with my proposals in the future. And with the signing of that contract, you ARE confirming my presence at your show -- the ambiguity that Wizard claimed is gonna make me be a bit anal-retentive in my affirmations of deals and all that. But I'd rather you tell me "yes" seventy-six times than to be caught in this situation again! Also, trades will NOT be suggested, but a REQUIREMENT if I'm performing the U Cre-8 Comics line -- if I don't actualize the value of the product, I can't expect anyone else to, right?!

So to wrap it all up, I was upset, but honestly came out unscathed! I had a good time, with great food and even better company (I love you, Mom!!!!), but if you're facing a situation like this, keep my story in mind as fair warning. Get FINAL confirmation for all that you do, even if you have to be crazy redundant about it! With respect to Wizard, I'm writing a formal letter of complaint to Stephen Shamus, Chief Marketing Officer of Wizard Conventions and WON'T be attending another show of theirs for while...and even then, they're footing the bill!

Thanks to everyone for following along, I hope this misadventure was a much of an experience for you as it was for us! Now it's time to get back to work - we got some comics to make!

Victor Dandridge
EiC of V:IP

I did...so you don't have to PART THREE

2011-08-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

So after the last batch of emails, MY impression is that I'm on-board for the Kids' Day Event, a last-minute addition which accounts for why I wasn't included on the official roster for the weekend -- though, my friends at Comicrelated.com were ready to promote my participation (Thanks guys!). But let me back track and reveal what should've been ANOTHER reveal that things weren't on the up and up!

CLUE #3: In "C"'s email, they stated, "...everyone participating in the Kids' Day is getting it as an added value for their paid participation." Are they really suggesting that its an added value to ME to perform for THEM?! That sounds AWFULLY boisterous and considering the current climate (contempt) a lot of people have had with Wizard over the past few years (folks like mainstream publishers), I'd say its at least mutually beneficial for us to partner up, right? Still, I digress...

Okay, so the situation stands at: I'm to be a feature of the show and I'm waiting to find out what kind of discount I'm getting on the table fee, which is my "tradeout" for participating. Mind you, this is all just 9 days before the show itself, so I've gotta put a lot of things into motion to account for my share of things: hotel, travel, food expenses, getting things printed, etc., etc., et al...org (that was supposed to be funny). But in the hub-bub of it, I only managed a single phone call to see what was up on that discount, which I'll admit wasn't NEARLY enough effort on my part. Especially when...I didn't get a response...BUT AGAIN, it's 9 days before the show -- that's GO TIME for EVERYBODY! Being the KING of optimism, I figure we can work out the discount situation when I get to the show (similar situations have played out so in the past), so I pack up and take off!

The ride was smooth and full of laughs (we learned on the radio that someone named their child "Shot-of-Vodka"...no, seriously...) and though the hotel was a bit further out than I had intended for it to be, we were in good shape to have a GREAT weekend! And despite my optimism, I'm also about not waiting until later for what I can do now, so I opt to go to the show and see where things are with the discounted table...and here's where the fun truly begins...

I'm introduced to "A", who heads up Artists Alley at the show and reveals that they've gotten no knowledge of any supposed discount that I'm supposed to get. Now they say this not with any air of "hmmm, I might've missed it," but rather, "no, "C" didn't say that and you're lying" disdain. It was off-putting, especially after a six-hour car ride, but I figure, they're just as tired having dealt with God knows how many of our nerd-kind with the show's opening. Even worse is the blank look I get when I reiterate that the discount is a trade for my participation in the Kids' Day Event. Worse still is when I'm told that there's nothing saying I'm to be a part of that either. When I ask for "C", I'm told that they've left for the day (which to me was a good sign for getting things worked out that they'd actually BE at the show), but that "A" will email "C" when "A" gets back to their room (this is starting to sound like stereo instructions...sorry). I email "C" myself with this:

I've arrived in Rosemont this evening and went to check in at the convention center, but there was nothing on file of my participation. "A" is going to get back with you on that this evening to clear up any misunderstandings. I'd hate to think that I indulged this trip/expenses for nothing. I can be reached via cell at 614-419-**** and am staying at the Westin Chicago Northwest.

True to form, I got no response that evening and if you check my Twitter Feed, you can see where I start to postulate how bad this situation COULD be. But I set my aim to rectifying everything in the morning, assured it was just a misunderstand...

THE NEXT DAY: I get to the convention center bright and early, about 8am or so, and scout the registration area for "A" or "C". After a "rousing" convo about whom I actually need to speak with first (if I know whom I need to speak with and it's not you, does it really matter why I need to speak with them?), I see "A" coming in and her first words after seeing me are "I didn't have a chance to email "C" last night (BAD OMEN), but that "C" will be in shortly. So I recommit to waiting for "C", whom I've never seen before in my life, eagerly eyeballing each person I think "C" could be. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER...I'm still waiting, having paced the stretch of registration booths a few times and getting those awkward looks from both the staff and volunteers, who are just as tired of my hovering as I am. I finally resolve to ask another staff member if they know when "C" is coming in and they state that "C" IS NOT a Wizard employee (I felt the cabin pressure in my brain shift on that one). After a few minutes of conversing with other staffers, they bring over "J" who claims to work with "C" -- my first order of business is to make sure that "C" DOES, in fact, work for Wizard (they do). But "J" continues to tell me that they know of no confirmation of my involvement with Kids' Day, Artists Alley or the show at all. I'm told that there was no reason to presume any standing with the show and that any talks of discount were just "conversation" (this is where those feelings I described in Part One came in). The fire was only fueled when I spoke with "C" (with "J"'s gracious use of their phone), to be told the same, even when I quoted from our correspondence WHY I would "presume" such involvement. "J" had to ask me multiple times to keep my voice down (yeah, I was losing my cool) and when I found that the conversation had devolved into the tug-of-war between "you said I was a part of the show"/"no I didn't", I decided to let my end of the rope go and pass the phone back to "J" who looked thoroughly pleased that I didn't spike it in a touchdown dance of ire.

I immediately walked out and set Twitter on FIRE (kudos to my Mom who waited patiently in the car throughout this whole ordeal -- she could've got all "Oh-no-you-didn't", but she let me handle things and even came up with a BRILLIANT solution -- the RIVERS CASINO, cha-ching!). We were there maybe twenty minutes before I received a voicemail from "C", who also sent this email saying basically the same thing:

Hi Victor.
I do apologize for our exchange earlier. I know I got heated about the miscommunication and I do feel bad about that so I spoke with someone on the sales team, and they can make a space for you in Artist Alley for a $300 table which is one of the lowest fees we offer. If you're interested in doing that, please give me a call at 310-383-****. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

SO...after I've traveled 6 hours to come to the show, pre-paid my hotel stay because I had to book on such short notice, and spent what I have on supplies ONLY to be told I have no place at the show, your "compromise" is that I'm to drop ANOTHER $300 for a table -- which is more than I was supposed to pay in the first place, because you were getting me discount?!?! Needless to say, I politely declined!

Come back for the final posting, where you can see how Mom and I scooped up these lemons and went to work on making a good weekend outta this mess! And if you missed Parts One and Two, fear not, they're right here!
Part One:
Part Two:

I did...so hopefully you won't have to...PART TWO

2011-08-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome back, folks! I don't want to let too much time linger between these posts -- helps keep the perspective fresh! If you're just tuning in on this 2nd installment, you can catch up on all the "fun" here!

So, where was I...OH YEAH! I finally have my phone convo with "C" at like 6:30pm (EST) -- they were quite apologetic about getting back to me so late and made light about how despite working on the west coast, they're subject to the business schedule of the east since so many of the work is based out of NY. It was short, quaint included their specification for planning for the Chicago show, my desire to trade my presentation for space at the show and ended with them requesting a mock-up for the presentation setup I had in mind (which I've provided below).

Now because I was leaving for Derby City Con the next day (7/16), we arranged that the specs wouldn't be sent until that following Monday (7/18), and here's the message that accompanied it:

I've attached a mockup for the space to use and what the time breakdown for the presentation is. Using the setup for the panel rooms you guys usually have, I'll add clipboards to the provisions for everyone, in addition to pencils, erasers and copy of the U Cre-8 Character Crafter Workbook. If there's anything further that you need or if this wasn't exactly what you had in mind, just let me know. Thank you so much for help thus far and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

That was on the 18th of July -- nearly a full MONTH before the Wizard World Chicago Con which kicked off Thursday, August 11th! I let a week go by before I call to make sure the specs were received and that there wasn't anything else needed, but got no answer and had to leave a message -- make no mistake, I understand that they're busy -- we're in the heart of convention season and WWC is one of their staple shows and I'm sure they're trying to make a BIG DEAL of the whole thing, so I'm not sweating it.

With that being said, CLUE #2 should've been my failure to get a response when I called 2 or 3 more times with the same result. Left message, got no response. Also during this time, I called NYCC to confirm my setup with them and almost panicked my contact who thought they had failed to let me know I was approved -- so I'm proving to be at least a LITTLE cautious, right?! So as the days drag on and still with no word from Wizard, I'm figuring that something wasn't working for them and I'm ready to write it off as a no-go -- but low and behold I get this message on Tuesday the 2nd of Aug:

Hi Victor. Sorry for the long delay in getting back to you. Chicago is shaping up to be a huge show, and it will be impossible for us to comp a booth space. At this point, pretty much everyone participating in Kid's Day is getting it as an added value for their paid participation. If you are interested in purchasing booth space, I can likely help you get it at a discount and will work on accommodating your workshop for kids. Let me know and I will make an introduction to the sales folks.

Now this is sounding to me like a we're go -- its a little late in the game to be sure, but its on the positive slope UPWARDS! And while I'm disappointed that I can't get comped space (I mean, I'm offering a $1000 presentation here), I'm still looking forward to the possibilities of being linked with a syndicated convention system. So I reply:

I'd like to see what we can work out. What did you have in mind, price-wise? If you let me know by the end of the day, I can let you know ASAP what I need.

We're still Aug. 2nd, so all of these correspondences are happening SAME DAY -- with the final word back from Wizard being:

Let me discuss with sales. I was trying to bypass them to see if we could work out a space for you, but there is no tradeout space to be had so let me see what I can negotiate with "P. K." and get back to you today.

So we're still working out the deal of the price for the table, but otherwise -- ITS A GO! And with only NINE DAYS until the show starts, I've got to get my butt in gear on getting ready. I reached out to my friends, family and fans and got a TREMENDOUS outpouring of support that allowed me to get supplies, lodgings and travel plans all worked out by following Tuesday (8/9). And to all those who gave so much of their time, love and money -- THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY from TOP to BOTTOM! But that's not the end of this tale and things are JUST about to get interesting, so come back again so you can see it all hit the fan!

I did...so hopefully you won't have to... PART ONE

2011-08-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Disappointed. Time wasted. Cheated. Pissed off. Frustrated. Heated. Annoyed. Devastated. I could definitely use these phrases to describe the misadventure I had at Wizard World Chicago and for a hot minute, I definitely did (those who follow me on Twitter know what I'm talking about). But thankfully, due to a naturally optimistic personality and the witty rapport I share with my Mom (who was my roll-dawg on this roadtrip), I can say that we turned a lemon of a weekend into a "lemonal" menu of laughs and good times. But our ability to keep this potential debacle from turning such doesn't dismiss the egregious level of unprofessionalism and the apparent lack of ANY customer service skills maintained by Wizard and its staff, nor the cadre of lessons I've gleaned from the occasion.

What was SUPPOSED to happen: After three years, I was making my way BACK into the fold of the Wizard World show. I hadn't been since the summer of 2008, the year before the Great Publisher Exodus, and was generally in a fan-only capacity, despite having a presence at the Chicago show since 2004. But not only was I returning, I was going in solo - as an industry semi-pro - under my publishing imprint, Vantage:Inhouse Productions (whose existence came about when Wizard's rebranding of the "Wizard World" moniker unintentionally, but without question, forced me to abandon my long-held WizWorld Inc. line). Even more so, the U Cre-8 Comics line was to participate in their Kid's Day Event, which to my knowledge is a new feature emulated from the ReedPop shows, where it has successfully kept Sunday attendance numbers soaring. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men...let me tell you what ACTUALLY happened...

THE SETUP: After getting recruited to present the U Cre-8 line at Derby City Con, I saw the program as a PERFECT feature to pitch to other shows, particularly those with events specified for younger attendees. I had successfully pitched to Origins Gaming Convention, Champion City Comic Con and my first corporate show with New York Comic Con (one of ReedPop's two shows, the other being C2E2). With ReedPop and Wizard being rivals, I was reluctant to try my hand with Wizard, not wanting it to upset my chances at NYCC -- but, after some thought and some Twitter consulting, I decided its better to not let ANY opportunity go to waste and sent the email proposal belown on July 7th to Wizard employee "K"*:

I"m writing to offer my U Cre-8 Comics line to be a feature of your kid's activities at your Comic Cons. Designed as an innovative system to bridge creative expression and classroom fundamentals, the U Cre-8 line uses the sequential form of comics as a backdrop to promote reading comprehension with critical analysis, vocabulary building, creative writing, and an appreciation for the visual arts.

I'd particularly like to showcase the "Character Crafter," an 8 page workbook that walks participants through the process of creating their own super-human character. This piece has garnered a lot of attention and publicity as a feature of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's (Ranked #2 in the nation) Summer Reading program, as well as significant interest from the Boys&Girls Club and the YMCA. This coming July, it will be a part of the Kid's Activities Showcase at the Derby City Con (Louisville, KY) and was just setup as a scheduled presentation for the Art Show/College at the 2012 Origins Gaming Fair (GAMA).

With your permission, I'd like to host a 1 hour presentation, which I will furnish supplies to accommodate up to 200 participants (supplies include Character Crafter workbook, pencils and erasers). Normally, there is a charge of approximately $5-8 per participant, but I'm quite willing to wave that fee for some other accommodations. I eagerly look forward to hearing from you and do hope that I'm able to be a part of your celebration of comics and pop culture. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration in this matter.

*To maintain MY standards of professionalism, I'll keep whom I spoke with anonymous, only referring to them by one of their initials.

On July 14th, I received this response from Wizard employee "C", who had been forwarded my initial proposal from "K":

Hello Victor.
I'm happy to discuss with you, and we can determine if this is a fit for our Family Day programming. When might you be available tomorrow?

Of course I was ECSTATIC and immediately replied with this:

Thank you for getting back to me! I'm open pretty much all day tomorrow, so I can give you a call about 10am (EST) if that's alright. Just let me know if you need a better time, or you can contact me at (614) 419-****. I'll be in my studio for the next hour, but have a presentation at a library and won't be available until 4pm. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you!

I heard no response for the contrary, so at 10am the very next morning I called to see what could be setup...and I got no answer :(. I waited about 10-15mins before calling again, THIS TIME "C" answers...but has to postpone our convo because they have a scheduled phone conference at that time.

CLUE #1: Looking back, there were a few tell-tell signs that things were going to go awry and here's the first one -- in MY response back to "C", I asked them to let me know if they needed a better time -- having another phone conference planned is DEFINITELY reason to need a different time, especially when they're in California so my 10am call is 7am to them!

This is kind of shaping up to be an EPIC tale, so I'll break things up for your convenience, but come back soon because the misadventure only gets even stranger from here!

Give your feet the V:IP treatment!

2011-08-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

A here's little something I whipped up after finishing these CUSTOM shoes. Had a bit of fun doing them (the shoes AND the promo) and will definitely be doing more in the future!

If I were EIC 7/26/11...

2011-07-26T08:47:00.001-07:00

I've been sitting on this one for a few months now, kinda daring the "man on the roof" to snatch this idea up before I had a chance to post it! But alas, it seems my idea thief has been as busy as I have and this one will at least see some light with me as the spearheader! With the upcoming DC 52 shakeup, fans and creators abroad have said this or that about their favorite characters being revamped or outright missing and while there are a few characters I couldn't care less about, there's one that if he makes THIS KIND of triumphant return, I'd certainly be a regular reader: The Main Man -- LOBO!

Now, I've never been a big fan of Lobo -- he's been kinda this funny-haha, kinda character to me, but I've enjoyed him when he's shown up here and there (especially in the DC Animated universe!) and think with the right kind of guidance, he could be DC's rough and tumbly rumbler! The guy all others cross the universe to avoid (if he's not that already)! But who could shepherd the necessary mayhem, dismemberment and moxy of the Czarnian Bounty Hunter?! None other than GARTH ENNIS!

Let's be real -- nobody writes F.U.S. (#$%^ up @$%$) like Ennis does -- whether that's late night poultry liaisons (Preacher), polar bear powered decapitations (Punisher) or jaw-dropping (literal) street-walker vengeance (The Pro), the raw sense of gruesome that he writes with just drips off the page! And boy does he have a handle on dialogue! There's not a silver-tongued sailor who can hold a candle to Ennis's curse-laden diction and in the world of Lobo, he can engineer new terms of vulgarity that the universe has never heard, but will be adopting in no time -- Fan-Fraggin'-Tastic!!!

But what's peanut butter without its jelly?! We've gotta bring artist Darick Robertson on for the ride! The two have a simpatico for the horrendous that creates its own language! Have you READ The Boys?! By page 6 if you're not in awe, dribbling some sort of body fluid, you're clinically dead to be sure! Oh yes, I'd pay top dollar to see these two take on The Main Man -- It'd be a romp of other worldly proportions, heavy metal space-fights and general kick-assery!

And that makes it 100!

2011-07-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, my 100th post! I wanted to save it for something special and I hope I have it so chocked full of TASTY GOODNESS that you'll forgive such a LOOOOOOOONG absence! A BIG thanks to EVERYONE who's stuck with us this far and lets see if we can't bust out some of that dependable work ethic now that the Summer Reading Program has wound down to a close. Actually, that's a great starting point!

-- The U Cre-8 line has been a PHENOMENAL SUCCESS! I want to thank both the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Southwest Public Library districts for allowing V:IP to come in and take part in their "Be A Hero, Read a Book" themed program! Visiting almost EVERY CORNER of this city, I see that comics are widely loved and there are just scores of kids interested in not just reading them, but making their own! Truly Awesome! And I have every intention of taking the U Cre-8 line BEYOND the bounds of Columbus, alone -- so keep your eyes peeled, I may be rolling in on your town!

-- Things are moving along EXCELLENTLY with TTw/L! I know my last post featured a 7pg preview, but I'm feeling all kinds of excited (I mean, this IS the 100th post and all!) that I'm going to show case pages 8 & 9, a flashback sequence that shows Apex Prime IN ACTION!

Work continues for The Samaritan! In fact, I've just concluded an open bidding for ad space in the COLLECTED EDITION (featuring Chapters 1-3) and they'll be sent the printers by week's end (if you're interested in ad space in any V:IP piece, just drop us a line!)! I'll update this post with a link when they're available! And just to tied you over till then -- check out the interim cover for Chapter 3: The Fix! (*Funny story, artist Ren McKinzie's son thought the original cover could use a bit more RED MARKER on it, so this one is only an acting substitute till Ren redoes it! Lol!!)

And last but not least: 8 BITS!!! I've done some new designs (which you can check out at on Deviantart!) and also finished this BEAUTIFUL MONSTER of a poster! That's 192 DESIGNS spread over 36x24" (That's 6 sq ft of 8 Bits!!) and will replace the previous 36x24 poster for any orders as of 7/27/11 (Still for the price of $20 + $5 shipping!!)

But we're not done yet! The 8 Bits will now be available as STICKERS at shows! I found a local printer willing to knock out ALL of these 8 Bit designs, so you can have your pick of buttons (shout out to Mutant Cactus!), stickers and prints!!! And if you see me at a show, stop over and take the 8 Bit Challenge -- Name 10 (ten) characters (WITH SPECIFICITY!!!) and win a FREE button (Retail value $1)!!! The fun doesn't stop at V:IP, but its time I get back to work so you'll have more of that tasty goodness we're known to deliver!!!

See you tomorrow with the return of IF I WERE EIC!!!!

IT'S PREVIEW TIME!!!

2011-06-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! I said I wouldn't leave for a while and then what happens? I disappear again! BUT, as always, its never for just wanton play! NO! The Summer Reading Club has begun and I'm having an absolute BALL! Showcasing the comic form like this has been a dream come true and I hope to continue doing it well into the fall -- BUT WAIT! I AM!!! I've setup an 8 week course through the Jewish Community Center!

Hmmm...I did say PREVIEW TIME, RIGHT?! I've got some AWESOMENESS to share with you guys!!!!

The work is rolling in from Harold (and the colors by Ryan are PHENOMENAL!)! I'm only trying to whet your whistle here -- which was an INCREDIBLE struggle to only show you this much!

Open publication - Free publishing - More inhouse

And I've been busy hammering out some prose stories for the 8 Mins series and have this FABULOUS preview to share! A pre-order will be made available soon for digital distribution! But check it out and let me know what you think!!!

Open publication - Free publishing - More 8 mins

That's it for today -- but I'm gearing up for something HUGE for my 100th post! Stay tuned -- I PROMISE -- no seriously, I PROMISE I won't be gone so long!!!!

STRONGMAN LEGION PLUS -- Episode #1

2011-05-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is something a little different, but I wanted a new way to do a "webcomic," something that would ring a little unique! This has a pretty cool motion feature that I hope to make better use of in the future, but this is DEFINITELY something COOL!!!

**This is MATURE READERS project (obviously!), so PLEASE be mindful of younger viewers!**

Customize a photo slideshow

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! (See you next THORSday...?)

2011-04-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

In addition to the weekly holiday we comic book minded folk celebrate every Wednesday, there's a yearly day of revelry, where we extend our welcoming arms to the unconverted masses in an attempt to awaken them from their sinful obliviousness to the greatness of COMICDOM -- FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! On this most glorious of days, scores of comic book specialty shops across the nation open their doors with the allure of FREE COMICS (the name really does say it all, doesn't it?!)! In its 9th year, FCBD falls on Saturday, May 7th 2011 (its ALWAYS the FIRST SATURDAY in May!) and I'm quite proud to say that I'm taking part in a few celebrations throughout the day!

I'll start my rounds at about 10 in the morning at COMIC TOWN, where I expect to have a little fun with Ryan and the gang! I'm VERY excited to see what my pal, Mike Eshelman has in store with his Perler Beads -- he's done some AMAZING pieces that he's debuting that day!

From there I'm heading out west where the party will be in FULL SWING at PACKRAT COMICS, where Jamie and Teresa will have guests GALORE packing the build (pun intended)! I'm giving it only 15mins before I'm busting a robot with my buddy, author of the horror anthology, Nightmare World and the "Write or Wrong" columnist at Newsarama, Dirk Manning -- its an Ohio thing...!

But as much fun as I'm going to have there, I'll have to tear myself away to make sure that I'm all setup around 2pm at THE MOVIE TAVERN! There, I'll be bring the FCBD magic to the people -- specifically those going to see Marvel Studios newest release -- THOR! I'll have a whole barrage of stuff with me -- including 200 copies of the official FCBD Thor book to pass out to movie goers!

Sounds AWESOME, RIGHT?! (Psssst! Let me tell you a secret -- at Vantange:Inhouse, FCBD will actually begin THURSDAY NIGHT (5/5/11)! We'll be at the AMC Lennox 24 Theatre doing sketches for those BRAVE SOULS venturing to the midnight screening of THOR! In honor of this event, I'm "renaming" the day (verily) -- THORSday!

So come out -- get FREE comics, see an AWESOME movie, get an ORIGINAL sketch AND MORE! This is guaranteed to be the BIGGEST and BEST Free Comic Book Day of the YEAR (lol) -- but it'll be NOTHING without YOU!!!

Samaritan Graphic Tees NOW AVAILABLE!!!

2011-04-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

EXCLUSIVELY thru Skreened.com, you can snag your own graphic tee featuring artwork from our hit series, The Samaritan! Visit the VANTAGE:INHOUSE store and get yours TODAY!!!

The Samaritan #2 READ IT HERE!

2011-04-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More comics

For your reading pleasure, the next chapter in The Samaritan story is available -- AND FOR FREE! We're already working on issue 3 and beyond, but want to offer a heartfelt thanks to everyone whose shown support for our work thus far!

*PARENTS: Please be aware that this series is meant for mature audiences due to adult language and themes!

8 Mins Presents...4/20/11

2011-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

I just finished the new 8 Mins feature, The To Do List. An inspiring gesture, its not something I had ever considered before, but would LOVE to begin the tradition with my family! I hope you enjoy it!

Years ago, while resting in the arms of her grandmother, she was given a challenge. Taking days to begin and years to complete, this task should not be entered into lightly as it represented a strong family tradition; an invisible heirloom passed down through the matriarchs to instill a sense of pride and purpose in their daughters. But despite the intricacies and the longevity of it all, the task was simple: Make a list of what you want to accomplish in life and repeat that list, everyday, leaving off only what you've accomplished the day before. Read more...

The Samaritan #2: COMING SOON!!!

2011-04-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

On The Horizon 4/18/11

2011-04-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ugh...! Every so often, I get locked out of my brain -- quite possibly my brain's response to my EXTREME workload, it beckons for a rest and consequently, I operate on an autopilot function. I don't like it, but I've gotten used to it and try and accept its value -- BUT DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN NOW?! LOL!

Last week I posted that I've finally figured out what the V:IP 15 are going to be -- I spent the weekend working out the production schedule for the whole shebang, which extends ALL THE WAY to November! I swear, it was SOOOOO hard just to pick which projects to work on, but trying to decide which order I was going to work on them was PURE MENTAL MURDER (might be why I've got the lockout now)! Here are a few who made the list:

1.) The Samaritan - Obviously our first piece of the year was gonna make the list, right?! Ren's turned in pages for issue 2, with the last few scheduled to be done by this Friday and letters by next Monday. We've gotten A LOT of love with the first chapter and can't wait to see what you guys think of the next two installments!! Release Date: 4/27 (Final project release: 6/15)

2.) Omnibus #2 -- I'm returning the series that kickstarted my solo-selfpublishing career! Picking up on the next issue of Chronicles of Legend, but am introducing a new series, THE SEVENTH DIVINE!!! Release Date: 5/18

3.) Strongman Legion Plus -- I've been toying around with making this a weekly web-comic, though I have to find a way to protect my younger audiences (it has some mature content within) with some age-verification functions.

4.) The Trouble w/Love -- I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THIS COMES OUT. Release Date: 6/29

5.) 8 Mins -- Our first prose book, this is a collection of the first 15-20 stories in the 8 Mins franchise! Release Date: 7/6

6.) SPECTRUM -- I've made some great leaps ahead with this series and hope to announce a VERY SPECIAL cover artist soon!!! (I'm CHEESING so hard about this one!!) Release Date: 7/20

7.) It Came from Space pt 2&3 -- I'm finishing the Half-prints series, featuring the Wonders of the Great Beyond! This one is kind of a personal piece; something that I can get my sons to help me do! Release Dates: 6/30 and 8/5

Only halfway thru the list and we're already hitting AUGUST! I hope to set a new precedent for what a self-publisher CAN DO and can't see what you think of what we've got in store! Ooh...the fog is beginning to lift -- BETTER GET BACK TO WORK!!!

WTF is the V:IP 15...?

2011-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

When I decided to make the move to create full time, I KNEW that I was going to have to do something both drastic and dynamic to truly make a name for myself, amidst the literal THOUSANDS aiming to do the same! I've considered crafting a "convention personality;" a sort of showman's identity to build/boost my recognition and presumed popularity. Campaigns have been on the table too -- whole-scale acts to drum up sales and all that goodness. But, of all the ideas I had, nothing resonated more succinctly than simply producing the best work I could and a lot of it!

Now, those of you who create comics know the laborious process it tends to be -- ESPECIALLY if you're collaborating with anyone else. At times, it can be hard enough to manage more than one project within a year, right? Still, Vegas' odds say to win BIG you've gotta play BIG -- so I've decided that in 2011, Vantage:Inhouse Productions will produce no less than 15 projects! Mind you, that's not 15 ISSUES -- no, PROJECTS -- 15 different titles, concepts and stories -- all in one calendar year!

So that's what the V:IP 15 is -- my personal challenge as a publisher! I know it won't be easy, but I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for the journey ahead!

8 BIT POSTER FOR SALE - Who can YOU name?!

2011-04-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Due to POPULAR DEMAND, I just HAD to offer my 36x24" 8 Bit poster FOR SALE! At only $20.00 USD, plus $5 for shipping, you can start your 8 Bit collection STRONG, with over 170 DESIGNS! Featuring the collections from both, Volume 1 and 2, each design is showcased in ALPHABETICAL ORDER and you can AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS with your skills of GEEKY RECOGNITION!!!

To purchase, just click on the POSTER IMAGE to your RIGHT!! Get yours TODAY!!!!

If I were EiC 4/12/11

2011-04-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

I've never been an avid Punisher fan -- it's not to say that there's anything wrong with the character, in fact, he's one of the most honest portrayals of "heroics" in comics today. But with the PLETHORA of characters in the Marvel U (and comics in general, the exploits of Frank Castle have kinda fell by the wayside. I have eagerly poured through the GENIUS that is "Welcome Back, Frank," the epic character-resurrection by craftsmen, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion. That sort of rawkus ride definitely has a firm grip in my psyche of what the Punisher is (though castrated, BRUTALLY by the 2004 feature film that friends have aptly called, The Reprimander) -- a quick witted, tough as nails, single solution to the rotten side of crime (Let's be honest, Ennis proved himself a Da Vinci of mayhem with that bit with the polar bears)!.

But as awesome as that run was, you know whose unique brand of vigilante justice and subversive intellectual content would trump ALL that has been said about the Punisher: FRANK MILLER! C'mon -- imagine the "rumored" megalomania of Frank Miller, running wild on the inner monologue of the one hero whose dark overtones unsheathe with merciless precision! He's the killer Batman would never be, the animal Wolverine abhors and on top of that, he's been shown to be the antithesis of all that Daredevil stands for! I'm calling it the greatest "challenge" of Miller's career!

Still, that's only half of the equation! Though Miller is MORE THAN a capable illustrator and visual storyteller, when he's forced into only articulating with words, HE truly seems challenged to have to work the story more -- but to pick up that visual "slack," I want to bring on the mastery of EDUARDO RISSO! His style is more line-centric than Miller's Sin City work, but he captures the drama of chiaroscuro equally as well! That added measure makes the work run a bit more smoothly and that makes the splash of CRAZY that will fill every page that much more AWESOME!!!

On the Horizon 4/11/11

2011-04-11T05:05:00.000-07:00

Some times, you truly need to step back and regroup! After last week's post, I spent the week trying to figure out how to induce larger viewership, interest and all around "acclaim." I've reached out to some local people who DEFINITELY have a lock on their own marketing and PR to get some help and I'm SO GLAD I DID!

One of the first changes is that I will NO LONGER be posting the daily art exercises on this site. Wanting to gear this page more towards the publishing side of things, I think Deviantart.com is a much better home (singularly)! Don't worry, if you enjoyed checking those out, I've included a link to the Deviant pg just over to the right!

I will be keeping both the "If I were EiC..." articles, as well as excerpts from the 8 Mins posts alive here, as they're much more editorially friendly.

There's an updated CALENDAR on the site, now featuring ALL of the scheduled appearances for V:IP, INCLUDING, the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Summer Reading Program, using the U Cre-8 Comics Line!!!

So, having said all that -- what's on the menu for this week?!

I've gotten back on the grind for drawing Omnibus #2 -- in fact, I recently shook a magic 8 Ball and IT said that I'll have the book finished by May -- so here's hoping its right! I'm trying to challenge myself artistically, sampling different processes to see which will work the best for me. I'm certainly not reinventing the wheel (this time), but trying to find that perfect fit of a process is both a little daunting and exciting all at once!

I'm going to be starting the plots for LAST FOUR installment of The Samaritan -- for those of you waiting with bated breath for chapters 2 and 3, your patience will SOON be rewarded!

I've got the outline completed for SPECTRUM, hopefully able to make an announcement for the cover artist SOON (SUPER-EXCITED ABOUT IT)!! Final plots will be hammered out this week along with the initial character designs.

Definitely have a big week ahead of us, with A LOT of work to do to get these books out! Wish me luck and KEEP CRE-8ING!!!

FOR ONLY $.99, YOU CAN BE A SAMARITAN!!!

2011-04-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

I know I mentioned this just a few weeks ago, but with April being Child Abuse Awareness Month, I wanted to bring it up again! As the flier says, ALL the proceeds from our digital sales of The Samaritan #1 through Mydigitalcomics.com will be donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children! The book is GREAT, the cause is BETTER!!! I can't think of a better way to spend a buck -- can you?!

The Dark Land Available 4/13/11!!!

2011-04-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

The Dark Land
Writer: Andrew Salmon
Illustrator: Victor Dandridge
Cover Art: Mark Maddox
Publisher: Airstrip 27
ISBN:1-934935-90-5

The newest release from pulp-imprint, Airstrip 27, The Dark Land is NOW AVAILABLE! Written by Andrew Salmon and featuring spot illustrations by Victor Dandridge (ME!), The Dark Land is a crime-noir, sci-fi drama that follows C-Peter Reilly, a newly awakened cloned trying to find his footing in a world devastated by a series of natural disasters. Currently available for digital download, for only $3.00; hard copies will be available, April 13th, 2011 (Retail price $24.95)!

On The Horizon 4/4/11 (We Need a Resolution!)

2011-04-04T07:47:00.001-07:00

I LOVE hanging out with my creator friends! Its a chance for us to catch up and see where life has taken us, what projects we're working on, how and with whom -- its a good way to escape the batcave and get some fresh air, once in a while. I implore EVERY CREATOR out there -- FIND SOME KINDRED SPIRITS! It can be an uplift and enlightening experience for all!!!

So, I'm post-Gem City Con, (which was a wonderful show, you should DEFINITELY put it in your rotation!) and I'm left with this feeling of...we'll call it "dissatisfaction." The feeling has NOTHING to do with the show itself, but more of a pointed realization: NO ONE KNOWS WHO WE ARE! At C2E2, the sheer immensity of the show and being so far from home, I had conceived it as an acceptable situation that few people walked up to my table already aware of what we had to showcase. I mean, let's be fair, this was a show where mainstream publishers made announcements for big events and announced new creators and I was just a little guy, sharing the same pool. But GC is a much more intimate, creator-friendly show AND only an hour away from our homebase of Columbus, OH, so that allowance just doesn't hold water!

I'm forced to go back to the drawing board and really look at what's going on here. Is it possible that we're not trying to reach the masses enough? Is it possible we just haven't figured out the right vehicle for mass promotion? I believe its quite possibly both! So, for this week, that will be the MAJOR challenge -- divining a proper Pre-Show/Post-Show promotional engine that will make V:IP a brand people look forward to finding and will continue to follow for years to come.

5 Lines 3/30/11

2011-03-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Already, I'm starting to see a lot of improvement in my art from these exercises. One of my biggest challenges was in being able to visualize the image I wanted to draw -- slowly, but surely, I'm getting to the point where I can "see" better at the conceptual stage, which makes illustrating that much easier!

This week's challenge: THE BLOB!

Shape Up 3/29/11

2011-03-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

I truly believe this is my favorite of the weekly challenges! Today's piece, is DEFINITELY inspired by my son, Victor Mathieu -- I don't think there's a bigger fan of Tony Stark than Tony himself! Haha! As you can already guess, today's challenge is IRON MAN!!!

If I Were EiC... 3/29/11

2011-03-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Really quickly -- how many movie directors can you name in 20 seconds? Quite a few, right? Now, given that same amount of time, how many screenwriters (predominantly screenwriters, try to leave writer/directors out) can you name -- significantly harder, wasn't it? Possibly, because film (much like comics) is such a visually oriented medium, its easy to overlook the persons who initiated the whole process. But there is one who seems to stand heads above the rest and whether peripherally or head-on, you've definitely heard his name: Charlie Kaufman.

Kaufman has had a sizeable career, spanning two decades interwoven between television and film. And while I'm not that knowledgable about his tv pieces, his screenplays are ALWAYS exercises in cerebral nuances and hyper-intelligent dialogue that borderline bizare like a bookend! One of his most notable is the "how exactly do you catagorize this...?"-dramedy, Being John Malkovich, where a puppeteer (John Cusack) finds a portal into the head of John Malkovich (the real live actor)! Its almost insane to say that concept outloud, but its truly a fascinating film and I have no doubt (and don't mean to take anything away from the other auteurs who contributed) that its predominantly to do with the brilliance of Kaufman.

With that sort brevity towards reality or mischievous annotations to insanity, I think THE WORLD would take note if he took on DC's Clown Prince of Crime, The Joker! Imagine learning that each heinous act was simply the channeling of someone else's bloodlust, or that the Batman is really just a psychodelic-manifestation to "quell" the homicidal urges we all struggle to contain. Though there have been many takes on the Batman arch-nemesis, Kaufman would offer such a unique tone that could make us see the incorrigible, Mr. J in a new light...possibly the moon's light, when it's pale...while dancing with the devil.

Time Sketch 3/28/11

2011-03-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

I'm dedicating this edition to my young son, Julian. Yesterday, he asked me to show him how to draw Robin and we sat down for about 15mins doing so. Its a HUGE leap forward in his confidence, as he usually only asks me to draw things FOR him, and this was the first time he seemed eager to try for himself. So excited!

On the Horizon 3/28/11

2011-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

It's so good to be getting back to the regular swing of things! Once again, welcome back! Hopefully, we won't need to take such a long break as more starts rolling out the gate! Speaking of which...

It's about time I started talking about The Strongman Legion Plus! I grew up in the era of Voltron and the Power Rangers and try as I might, its really something that I've always found pretty cool! As my love of comics and related cultures have grown, I've come to find that those kinds of characters fit within their own subculture in their native Japan, called Sentai. Always loving an archetypal backdrop, I want to do a homage to those hue-heavy heroes! But here's the fun part -- it will be done ENTIRELY in 8 BIT! While definitely a challenge, this has been a fun exercise in pixel manipulations and structure! Look for more about The SML coming soon!

And since we're in the 8 Bit frame of mind -- check out these awesome Perler Bead renditions done by my friend, Mike Eshelman! He's TRULY gifted with those beads -- I mean, seriously -- he did Kitty Pryde phasing!!!

Say...what are YOU doing this Sunday (April 3rd)?! I'LL be representing V:IP at the 6th annual Gem City Comic Con in Dayton, OH! Come on down to Wright State University's Student Union (3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, 45435) and check us out! Both the 8 Bits AND The Samaritan will be on hand...and I may surprise you with a few extras (tee-hee). Show your love and support for V:IP and some of the greatest local talents this side of the mainstream!

Getting a little serious for a moment...Ren and I are VERY grateful for the love and support we've received with The Samaritan. This is quickly turning into one our most successful projects and we'd like to pay some of that forward. So, affective immediately, all proceeds from the digital sales of The Samaritan will be donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. For only $.99, you too can be a Samaritan to someone who truly needs it!

It's been a long time, since I left you...

2011-03-24T02:41:00.001-07:00

OMG! The dust is FINALLY settling! The past few weeks have kept us in a perpetual state of AWESOME! I SINCERELY appreciate your patience in our absence, but the time was spent getting everything ready for C2E2 and beyond with some AMAZING results!

First, let me just say that C2E2 was personally, my best show -- EVER! The audience was FANTASTIC, with attendance exceeding last year's by nearing 10K! And boy did they love some Vantage:Inhouse! Teaming up with Mutant Cactus, we had A LOT of love with the 8 Bit buttons! I mean, those things MOVED! We'll definitely be making them a staple of our table setup -- and guess what -- while at the show, I even found time to do a few more! Check 'em out:

The Samaritan made a GREAT DEBUT at the show, already receiving critical praise before the weekend was even over! Both Ren and I did a few interviews (links coming soon) and I really couldn't be more excited for the reception! A big thanks goes out to EVERYONE who took the time to stop by and check it out! And for those of you who weren't at the show, we haven't forgotten you! The Samaritan is now available for digital download through mydigitalcomics.com -- and get this -- for the SUPER-LOW PRICE of just $.99!!! What's that? You don't do digital? That's cool (I'm more of a print-guy, myself!) Then keep an eye out at Indyplanet.com where you can purchase the book for a mere $2!

Over the weekend, I got a few more pages from Harold for The Trouble w/Love -- I can't even TELL YOU how excited seeing his art makes me! He's an all around STELLAR artist and I had the chance to chat up his frequent collaborator, Cary Kelly, and we're both in agreement that you're hard-pressed to find a more talented AND congenial guy!

In the aftermath of the show, I've put in a few pitches for some wider distribution of the collected edition of The Samaritan and we'll see how that fares -- would LOVE to get a big name publisher behind us -- it would DEFINITELY make a huge statement in our creative circle!

I've also inked a deal with another PHENOMENAL artist, Mason Easley (Psychic Soldier Kai -- CHECK IT OUT!) is going to provide illustrations for a new pulp anthology series currently in development! Work begins in about two weeks with a scheduled release this coming July!

As you can see, there's been no thumb-twiddling goin' on 'round here! And now that we're back, we're gonna kick it into high gear and keep that magic flowing!

Thanks again for the patience AND the love!

Gimme 5...HUNDRED VIEWS!

2011-03-14T21:06:00.000-07:00

Just a little something to say "THANKS FOR THE VIEWS!!!"

Just not enough time in the day...

2011-03-09T21:04:00.001-08:00

As much as I hate to admit it, I AM only human, and trying to get things ready for C2E2, I'm going to have to cut back on the daily posts, starting today. Balancing the whole load is just a little too much to manage right now, and I'd rather take the folly of backing down over simply failing! So -- things will resume as soon as everything is all set for Chicago, but stay tuned because things will continue for Vantage:Inhouse!

If I were EIC 3/8/11...

2011-03-09T03:31:00.001-08:00

Is there anyone in the comic book world that doesn’t know who Geoff Johns is? I mean, really – he’s only the architect of THE most comprehensive franchise reinvigoration in comic book history! Seriously, what he did with Green Lantern is nothing short of AMAZING, breathing new life apparent into a title that spans more than fifty years of history, through the known universe and beyond. But that’s just a surface review – if you only look a little deeper, you’ll find where the real magic is.

Not to date myself, but MY Green Lantern is Kyle Rayner. You can call it a sign of the times of when I started reading comics (Early 90’s when DC’s focus rested squarely on the shoulders of Superman & Batman) or matter of allegiance (Darryl Banks was the first artist whose work I saw on the raw page, he’s the first industry professional I’d ever met and with him living in my hometown, he’s been a friend and mentor to me for more than a decade), but either way, I just never connected with Hal or the others. That is, until Johns came to play. While others seemed to banter about which Earth-born Lantern was best, Johns found a place for all four not just within the context of the Corps, but within the DC Universe as a whole, despite the deck shuffling of putting Hal back as the figurehead. He gave each character idiosyncrasies, passions, faults and failures that gave each one merit as an individual and a sense of brotherhood when they’re together. (He made me care about Guy Gardner – and I’ve wanted to punch him in the face since Superman died, maybe longer…Go Bucks!)

And then there’s the War of Light. The other lantern corps, the emotional spectrum, prophesies and “Chosen ones”; when you really see what he’s put together, you can see why he’s been given the wheel to steer DC’s future. But where I’d love to see him bring that magic to is another sprawling, space-epic franchise, whose place in comic fandom is rock solid as any bore from a planet called Krypton or a boy named Peter: STAR WARS. Just imagine Johns going in with his little red pen, tweaking and adjusting, leaving the core concept intact, but breathing new life into it all – where the lightsabers are manifestations of a Jedi’s inner self, the hue of their glow giving clue to how they FEEL. The Jedi Council would only be made up of those knights who had MASTERED their emotions, bending it to their WILL and bearing green sabers. The road to the Darkside would be paved in warm hues, culminating in a crimson world of hate or rage that has consumed its bearer until it is all that remains of them. And Anakin, the Chosen One, would’ve gone on a journey through every emotion, letting it mark him, define him, readying him to bring TRUE BALANCE to the force. Just a thought!

Shape Up 3/8/11

2011-03-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

Skirting in just in time! This was one of those pieces that I've wanted to get to since I've decided to do the Shape Ups, something about using all the big shapes -- though this one looks a little silly! (Once I get this down, look for some awesome books done like this!) Today's challenge: THE HULK!!

Ire of the Gods/Time Sketch 3/7/11!!!

2011-03-08T05:06:00.000-08:00

WHY?!?!?! I was putting the finishing touches on the 20min piece when...BOOM -- the lights go out! Apparently, a transformer (Revenge of the Fallen) blew somewhere and took out my entire block! That's no lights, no net, no nothing! So, please accept my humble apologies as the choice was wait and do the final piece or quickly post when the power came back (which according to my blinking clocks was about 4am!). I went for something's better than nothing -- so Today's Challenge: NIGHTWING!

*Big shout out to Columbus Public Utilities for working as quickly as they did to get me back in the light!

What's On The Horizon 3/7/11

2011-03-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

With C2E2 just around the corner, the main focus of our life right now is getting ready for the show! Like I said in the last post, the letters for The Samaritan have been been finished and I'm putting on the last touches, getting it print-ready! After the show this weekend, I'm definitely in need to re-up on some of the 8 Bit mini-prints, FINALLY having a print run of the second volume -- can't wait to see how those will move. -- Oh and BUTTONS! I'm down to my last dozen or so and they're WAAAAY too popular not to have in stock!

In addition to that, there will be promo prints, some fliers and more! I'm TEMPORARILY suspending the rest of the workload until all the pieces for the show are set -- but that doesn't include the Daily Posts...speaking of which, I owe ya one, don't I...brb!

So sorry...!!

2011-03-06T19:55:00.000-08:00

I am Jack's apology...man, I had such a good run of it, didn't I?! Daily posts, diligent work and then-- WHAM! 2 days gone; no posts, no holla! What can I do to get you to forgive me? What if I say it wasn't my fault (naw...too childsh)-- what if I promise to never do it again (blah -- not realistic). I KNOW -- what if I give you some tastey goodness to make up for it?!

Definitely a little late for the show -- but "Today's" Challenge: LUKE CAGE!
I don't get why he's currently decked out in the CHEAPEST construction-wear motif, but he's an Avenger and should dress accordingly! So, my inspiration is his uniform from Secret Wars (why isn't he wearing THAT ONE?!) mixed with a little "The Hooded Man" from Millar/Hitch's run of the FF!

Hey, guess what?! The first issue of the Samaritan is DONE! I can't even tell you how excited I am for THE WORLD to see this thing. It is truly one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of! The book will debut at C2E2 and will seriously rock the socks off of all who lay hand on it! Check out this amazing cover by Lindsay Rodgers:

Today marks a hallmark for me -- my first appearance at a Jeff Harper Convention! He's a personal legend, been doing local shows for YEARS and it feels like a HUGE step up for me (AND Vantage:Inhouse) to have been there. The crowd was SUPER nice, giving some GREAT feedback on the work showcased, including the U Cre-8 Workbooks (the first trial run is this week!!!)! A few families took a happy gander and it looks like everything is lined up for it to be a SUCCESSFUL division of V:IP -- but the true champion of the show (as they've proven consistently to be!), were the 8 Bits. They were a great ice breaker, drawing in people and keeping them around as we all had great fun in trying to guess which color coupling represented whom! Fanboys and fanbelles, both young and old REALLY got into the magic of the game, so much so, that I'm almost out of custom buttons (Time to re-up with MutantCactus!)!

And that leads me to my BIGGEST NEWS YET -- I've gotten my first Cease and Desist letter! A MAJOR publishing company has issued a warning that my peddling a particular venue for selling the 8 Bits is infringing on their trademark rights and that immediate action MUST be taken to avoid legal action! Now, I don't in any way shirk the law or the my obligation to be a responsible creator -- BUT HOW COOL IS THAT?! While others may feel like the man is stepping on their vibe, I like to look at things from better VANTAGE: They're stepping in because the 8 Bits are THAT GOOD, RIGHT?! Of course -- why waste the effort otherwise! But theirs still some 8 Bit fight left in me and I'm pursuing every avenue to keep bringing more of that old school gaming goodness to a t-shirt near you!

Whew! Does that make up for my lateness? Does that give me a pass? Even if it does, I'll do my best to never warrant the need again! Love, peace and elbow grease!

5 Lines 3/2/11

2011-03-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

I got caught up following the lines a bit more with this one that the last time and that REALLY took some of the life out of the cape (specifically) and think I could've turned the position around and still succeeded. Still fun to try though! I may do some of these at cons -- get some interactive sketching going, what do you think?!

8 Mins Presents...3/2/11

2011-03-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Just finished a new 8 Mins, "The Penance of his Recreation!" Its a little darker than the last feature, but the versatility is one of the things I love most about the 8 Mins concept! Here's an excerpt from it -- I hope you enjoy:

The glint from the gun barrel shinned in his eyes and he stopped. A nightly stroll, once veiled in nonchalance, now tarred and feathered with abject fear and humiliation. This is the penance of his recreation. He’s from here, so he should know better – unlike the travelling visitor; unaware that the rousing of danger comes easy in these parts. His is the fault of obliviousness; a careless mind wandering the street makes for a glorious target to urban predator. And here he stands, like so many before him – a victim; prey. Read more...

Shape Up 3-1-11

2011-03-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

Haha! Back on schedule and with hours to spare! These Shape Ups are proving WAY more fun that I thought they'd be! I'm seriously considering making a run of prints with a more graphic feel to them for some upcoming conventions. I'll keep ya posted on that -- in the meantime, enjoy today's submission: BATMAN!

If I were EiC 3/1/11...

2011-03-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

I’m into horror movies. No – strike that – I LOVE a good horror movie! There’s something incredibly potent about the essence of fear and when a movie is good enough to bring you into an environment and envelope you in it, it’s pure bliss! Especially with loads of gratuitous violence and gore – the more innovative the kill, the better (sorry Nana!)! But strangely enough, that’s NEVER carried over into my love of comics.

To be honest, for a long time, there weren’t many titles of note outside of the small press to prominently feature horror as a theme. But that all changed when Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith released their vampire-opus, “30 Days of Night.”
While a short read (I don’t think it’s even 50pgs, is it?), its concept is brutally brilliant, so much so that entire generations of horror writers before and after slapped themselves for not coming up with it! The legend of its worth only magnified, when the movie rights were sold for a purported, one MILLION dollars – a rare occurrence for comic properties at the time. Still, it didn’t QUITE hook me enough to grab the follow up series or any of the other horror/suspense titles Niles churned out in the years after.

Not even the award-winning and currently applauded, “Walking Dead” could fly my fancy – the first trade paperback, while solid, just didn’t appeal to me. No, it was another Image Comics alum, hailing from the Shadowline side of the family (the house that Jim built) that was my first sincere jump on to the horror comic train! With Dirk Manning’s “Nightmare World,” I found something big, sprawling, epic and just creepy enough to justify the melding of my comic and movie ideals. The vignettes were rich enough to draw you in, but short enough to leave you panting for more – the art teams, though plentiful, suited the stories they were attached to and it all worked to weave this larger tapestry. Simply put, I loved it. And the allure it created made me appreciate what I had once forsaken, drawing me first to the Walking Dead Compendium and soon, back to the world of Barrow, AK and beyond.

The EC Comic’s horror line could use their particular brand of terror-ific innovation! With Niles and Kirkman acting as co-editors, they could corral some of THE BEST talent and stories, hopefully, even taking some time to craft a few entries of their own, into one of the best horror anthologies EVER. They could bring in voices old and new, from comics and beyond (Dirk is in my top 10 of regular contributors, so is Stephen King and Wes Craven!!) – all in an attempt to scare the socks off of each and every one of us! And on the visual side, we’d get the tag-team power of Templesmith and Arthur Suydam, concocting images just shy of PURE EVIL to adorn covers, setting the bar ever so high for the art spectacle inside!

Normally I don't do this...

2011-03-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

I'm usually AGAINST previews, but I've gotten pieces from both Ren and Harold and there's NO WAY that I can keep all of it to myself! Just can't do it!

Check these out:

Artwork by Harold Edge

Artwork by Ren McKinzie

I AM the world's LUCKIEST writer!

Time Sketch 2/28/11

2011-03-01T04:49:00.000-08:00

I apologize! I'm a few hours late posting this, but here's "today's" daily art post!* While I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, that IS part of the point, right?! I definitely struggle with this, but the only way to get better is to keep pushing and pushing until there is virtually nothing I can't draw!

Today's challenge: Nova (Richard Rider)

In clockwise order, each piece took 10mins, 20mins and 30mins respectively.

*Went to see "I am Number Four" -- YOU NEED TO AS WELL.

On the Horizon 2/28/11...

2011-02-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, folks! Did you have a good weekend? I gotta admit, I certainly did! After the cover shoot for The Samaritan, I got to hang out with artist, Ren McKinzie for a while -- we talked about everything from comics, to kids, to boxing (the latter resulted in some instruction that STILL has my back sore!!! Lol!). It was truly an AWESOME time that carried over into the WEE hours of the morning.

Saturday was rather full too! Had a sit-down meeting with my friend, writer/director Sheldon Gleisser, whose looking to produce some of his original projects as comics. I'm not even gonna lie -- I would LOVE to get some of those properties under the V:IP label -- he's one of the most innovative voices I know for concepts and his characterizations will engulf you!

That evening, I made the trip out to Beavercreek, OH, where I met up with a few local creators from central/south-central Ohio and we sat around talking up what was coming down the pike for the lot of us. It was really like a little family reunion (because we ARE a close-knit group)and I can guarantee some AWESOME things are in store for you readers!

But enough about then, lets focus on what's coming up for V:IP this week!

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on the daily posts and they WILL continue(I'll be posting a new time sketch set this evening!). I love the challenge they present and I'm going to see about bringing some other creators in on the fun!

I did get a strong stride on the 3rd installment of The Samaritan, with most of the page breakdowns in place and just needing to go in for the dialogue. Ren's sent me pages of the first book and I've started lettering those -- LOVING EVERY BIT OF IT! (Seriously, Ren has TRULY stepped up his already extensive skill, sensitivity and storytelling on this one!).

The layouts for Omnibus #2 feature, Chronicles of Legend are nearing completion -- this new method, while seemingly time consuming, TRULY has shaved off a TREMENDOUS amount of production time! I can see myself sticking with this and tweaking it to better fit my schedule and style. I've also started layouts for Strongman Legion Plus -- What?! What's that you ask? What's the Strongman Legion?! Stay tuned and it will be ANSWERED!

With a lot of things nearing completion, we're already getting started on the next wave of projects from V:IP! This week's big deal is plotting for "Spectrum," my homage to Green Lantern! My goal is to have that all outlined by week's end and can give out a few more details about its production!

Hey -- are you doing anything this Sunday?! Sure you are -- you're coming to visit me at Buckeye Con hosted by Jeff Harper Comics at the Fort Rapids Water Resort! I'll be on hand with a few promotional items and would LOVE to see some of your friendly faces! After that -- its all prepping for C2E2!

Time for me to get back to the drawing table -- between my writing chores, drawing duties and editing tasks, there's barely enough time to go 'round as is! Thanks for stopping by!

Victor Dandridge
Editor-in-Chief
Vantage:Inhouse Productions

Behind the Curtain 2/25/11

2011-02-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

Shwew! What a week, right?! Challenging myself to keep up a daily post schedule was both a blessing and a curse. While I can pat myself on the back for actually doing it, it did keep me away from the daily grind of writing and art for my books. Over the weekend, I'm going to try to find a way to reconcile that time management gap!

Though I still haven't finished the 3rd chapter of The Samaritan, I can say that Ren has done some PHENOMENAL work that has me jazzed up to get to work on it(its actually my goal for the rest of the evening)! He's taking risks with his style and technique, putting his spin on the story beats and it's all working together GLORIOUSLY! Not to put the cart before the horse, but I'm already thinking about our next project together and hope we can get started on that SOON!

Just earlier tonight, we had the photo shoot for the cover and I'm on pins and needles waiting to see how AWESOME it is! I BIG THANKS goes out to Lindsay Rodgers, the cover artist for this one -- she's going to blow your socks off with this piece (I guarantee it!) and while I'm at it, I owe another big shout out to our model, my dad, William Hunt!

I DID manage to fit in some work on Omnibus #2, doing my best to finish up these layouts in Bryan Hitch fashion (Check out his book, "Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Comic Studio" to see what I mean!)! It might seem redundant, but I feel more free in my work and that's adding to my production. *I've posted a preview of one of the pages below!

Well, that about sums up my week -- a few missteps(not finishing The Samaritan OR getting a final design on the Daddy Packs), but a lot of good work is in the can! While I keep my nose to the grindstone, I'm gonna bid you all a good nite and a great weekend!

You're Invited!

2011-02-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

In order to better prepare for the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Summer Reading Program, I'd like to do a trial run of my presentation and my friends at Comic Town and the Comic Book Connection Intiative have graciously agreed to host and sponsor the first go round. If you have a young person in your life (preferrably ages 8+) with an interest in comics, drawing or both, I invite you to take part in the presentation and follow up Q&A!

Where: Comic Town
1249 Morse Rd.
Columbus, OH 43229

When: Saturday March 12th, 2011
12-1:30pm

Sign up on Facebook!

Project:Rooftop 2/24/11

2011-02-24T13:49:00.001-08:00

Just updated our Deviantart page with a new piece! Today's challenge: SUPERBOY!

8 Mins Presents...2/23/11

2011-02-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

Check out the brand new 8 Mins feature, "A Moment's Compassion." Based on a true event, I dare you NOT to be moved by this heartwarming story!

Look for the first collected volume, featuring all of the weekly posts from 2/23-5/25/11, this June, from Vantage:Inhouse Productions!

*For more 8 Mins tales, visit www.8-mins.blogspot.com.

5 Lines 2/23/11

2011-02-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

Just made a new update to our Deviantart page! Today's challenge: HAWKEYE!

Shape Up 2/22/11

2011-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:00

Just updated our Deviantart page with a new daily exercise! Today's challenge: WOLVERINE!

I got it Covered!

2011-02-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCING: The INCREDIBLY talented, local fine-artist, Lindsay Rodgers is lending her CONSIDERABLE skill for the cover piece of The Samaritan! This is her first foray into the world of comics, but I'm certain she's gonna make a BIG SPLASH!!! Work starts this weekend and the final piece should be done in time for C2E2!

If I were EiC (2/22/11)

2011-02-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

I must admit, I’m kinda man-crushing Jonathan Hickman’s run on the Fantastic Four. While comicdom at large is still hung up on the death/no-death of member, Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), Hickman had me from the word go, after I randomly picked up a copy of FF #572.
It was his portrayal of Reed Richards that did it – I can’t say I’ve ever been a fan of the often brilliantly aloof scientist, family man and team leader; the lack of cohesion of his two worlds (as a man of science and husband/father) always betrayed how smart Reed is truly supposed to be. But Hickman found a unique voice for that – Reed doesn’t accidentally forsake his family in pursuit of his work, he actually does it on purpose – not out of some strange disdain, but out of something as common as Spider-man: With great power comes greater responsibility. And even better, this rendition of Reed, as a near carryover from the run before, finds a way to make time for his family as well – in fact, it become a potential story beat just how much Reed is going to have to sacrifice in the name of the greater good.

Almost arrogantly, I confess I feel a resonance with Reed, a man blessed/cursed with so much insight that he can imagine a prolific future AND the means to achieve it. Here’s a man, albeit a fictional one, who can stand toe-to-toe with the fragile and cosmic alike, finding beauty, strength and merit within it all – that’s the kind of man I aim to be, both as a creator and a father. In fact, it was Reed’s speech to the attendees of the Singularity Convention in issue #579 that solidified my plan to leave my cushy job as a State employee for the wonderfully sporadic, if not tumultuous life of a self-publisher:
"Because there is the a fire called discovery burning within me...and I won't go back in the cave for anyone."

I think there’s another superhero-scientist that Hickman could breathe new life into: Dr. Ray Palmer, DC’s The Atom!
Despite having a long history in the DCU, The Atom hasn’t quite gained the notoriety of other heroes who’ve the same longevity or affiliations. He’s been relegated to near B-List, if not C-List levels and needs the hearty revive that plagued the Fantastic Four for YEARS! As Hickman has already shown, he can handle the jargon of scientific ideas, both complex and astonishing – and with The Atom, the infinite world of the infinitesimal is just as rife with potential threats and adventures as the known universe. And considering the recent emotional upheaval in Ray’s life (The last few years has seen his ex-wife turn a murderer and his induction into the Green Lantern mythos as a member of the enigmatic Indigo Tribe), I’m more than confident that Hickman can find a comfortable medium, shuffling back and forth between the different facades for some of the best story beats in the character’s history.

Timed Sketch Challenge 2/21/11!!!

2011-02-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

Just a bit on the wire for the daily post, but as promised, the first Time Sketch piece has been added to our Deviantart page. Today's challenge: HAWKGIRL!

What's on the Horizon...(2/21/11)

2011-02-21T06:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our first weekly update, (there was almost a theme-song involved -- be afraid, be VERY afraid) where you'll get the scoop on what's coming up this week from Vantage:Inhouse Productions! This is going to be a practice in open production forums, detailing the PLANNED events and being able to check back in a few days to see how well we stayed on schedule. Its different, surely, allowing for our flaws and all to be on display, but if we're going to offer a new perspective on creating comics and more, then we can aim for no less!

So let's see, where to start...ah yes -- THE U CRE-8 COMICS LINE!

With the Columbus Metropolitan Library's summer reading program just around the corner, I've decided that I should do some trial runs to make sure the process and my presentation are up to snuff! I've already got 2 of the city's most prominent shops agreeing to host(ComicTown and Packrat Comics), with sponsoring by the Comic Book Connection Initiative -- final plans will be made this week, with an official announcement by the end of the week!

The next installment of The Samaritan is underway! I should be finished with issue 3 by this Friday (2/25) and will be fully back on schedule! I'm considering sharing the script for the first two issues with a few more of my writing friends to see if I can't get some reviews/critiques posted.

I'm finishing the layouts for the first half of Omnibus #2 -- we're returning to the world of Chronicles of Legend and starting up a new tale very near to my heart, The Seventh Divine! My goal is to have this book ready for Gem City Con (4/5), which doesn't give much room for adjustments, but I LOVE to challenge myself!

After my daughter found a potentially fatal flaw with the Daddy Packs (the original packaging was a plastic bag), I've gone back to the drawing board on it and have come up with a BRILLIANT way of using a single sheet of paper to hold everything together. Actually, I can't claim such brilliance was uninspired, I got the idea from the children's menu at Bob Evans -- what can I say, the answers are around if you only look for them! But with this new design comes some more interactive play and the launch of a new "board" game, "Save the City!"

There's so much more to share, but I've droned on enough already and as you can see, there's plenty of work to do around here! I better get to mine before the boss comes around!

Victor Dandridge
Vantage:Inhouse

...Now Serving Daily...!

2011-02-20T20:06:00.001-08:00

There are 3 conceptual goals for Vantage:Inhouse Productions in 2011: The 3-Abilities -- Marketability, Accessibility and Dependability! In an effort to really drive home the last two, I'm moving to a daily posting schedule of content. That's right, sports fans -- you can get a DAILY DOSE of Vantage:Inhouse comic-booky goodness!

But this isn't just random bits, we're spewing here -- we've got a full blown schedule!

MONDAY:
We'll begin with a weekly update, where you'll get the 4-1-1 on what's coming up for Vantage:Inhouse. It may be the work schedule for the week, it may be more (like upcoming EVENTS and CONTESTS!) -- but it will be THE news hub for all things V:IP!

-- Linking up thru our page on Deviantart.com, I'll be doing a series of timed drawings, ranging from 10-30mins, challenging myself to gain speed and accuracy in my work!

TUESDAY:

-- Our first weekly feature article, where I'll be playing a little "Thursday Morning Quarterback," commenting on books and creators currently in the industry and noting some of the dream projects I'd put together if I were Editor-in-Chief!

-- Having a bit of a laugh with design, I'm going to challenge myself to draw a prominent character using a basic shapes! Its a little elementary, but should prove for some fun ideas!

WEDNESDAY:
I'm finally returning to my 8-Mins project, a series of vignettes that chronicle individuals during the last 8 minutes of Earth! I'll be posting a new story every week and will collect the first volume for publication in June!

-- I learned of this game thru a video of comic legends John Romita and his son, JRJR -- the idea is to have someone make 5 indiscriminant lines on a sheet of paper and for the artist to make a drawing out of them -- I'm SOOOO enlisting my kids to help with this one!

THURSDAY:

-- I'll be the first to admit my shamelessness!
This daily dose, inspired by ProjectRooftop, the site that showcases artist reinterpretations of classic comic and pulp characters, will feature my ideas for some of my favorite characters!

FRIDAY:
Finishing out the week, will be the special feature, "Behind The Curtain," where we'll showcase behind-the-scenes/early production materials and interviews of creators from current/upcoming V:IP prjects!

I think that's a healthy bit of action, don't you?! Come back soon because the fun starts tomorrow, Feb. 21st and it won't stop till the cash-cows come home!!

Victor Dandridge

Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise...

2011-02-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

So...I'm going over the production schedule of The Samaritan with artist, Ren McKinzie and I discovered that we're GROSSLY behind schedule!!! The plan, as originally intended, was to release the series in 7pt vignettes, the first 2 as digital books thru Issuu.com. The 3rd piece was to premiere in a collected edition, featuring parts 1-3, at the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo (C2E2). Unfortunately we haven't completed the books to start the Issuu releases yet and the collected edition is simply out of the question -- alas...

"...the best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry..."
-John Steinbeck

But rather than lament and be upset that the original plan isn't working out, I find it FAR more beneficial to find plausible solutions for something else and that's EXACTLY what we've done!

Announcing: The Samaritan Book 1 -- featuring Chapters 1 and 2 of the series, with words by Victor Dandridge and art by Ren McKinzie. This 16pg, b/w will be available at C2E2 for the low price of JUST $2! And each purchase comes with a complimentary copy of The Samaritan:Sourcebook -- a Half-Print RENdition introducing you to characters of The Samaritan!

Sometimes, you've gotta go back to the drawing board, but it usually yields better results!

...Form Arms and Body, and I'll form -- THE HEAD!

2011-02-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

I sounded a bit tentative before, but I can HAPPILY announce that Harold Edge has signed on to bring his INCREDIBLE pencils to The Trouble w/Love! Already he's begun production (check out his designs for feature character APEX PRIME!):

Already he's putting his own stamp on the character!

I'm also pleased to announce that colorist Ryan Carter is gonna bring Harold's pencils to life with his AMAZING coloring talent! I've worked on a book with Ryan before and I can fully attest that you are all in for an enormous treat!

So the players are set and the work is already underway -- stay tuned for more news for The Trouble w/Love and more, coming soon from Vantage:Inhouse!

Going E-Class!

2011-02-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

The sitting charts for C2E2 are up and I'm going all George Jefferson -- I'm moving on up to the "E" Side! We're running almost dead center with some AWESOME talent on either side of us -- time for the Row-E ROLL CALL:

E1 - Comic Social Club
E2 - Lee Kohse
E3 - Dirk Manning
E4 - Ashton Gallagher
E5 - Daniel Khanna
E5 - Gordon Purcell
E6 - Justin Cermak
E7 - Ren McKinzie
E8 - Mike Dolce
E8 - ME!
E9 - Darla Ecklund
E9 - Jessica Hickman
E10 - Nathan Lueth
E10 - Seamus Burke
E11 - G.W. Fisher
E12 - Hilary Barta
E13 - Adam Hughes

As you can see, I'm with some GREAT company and I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Investing in Success...

2011-02-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

A while back, my best friend, Danny told me that he and some co-workers were gonna start up a button business. I remember, being like, "buttons...wha?!" not being aware of how popular the little collectibles could be to so many audiences. In the years since, MUTANT CACTUS has had some amazing successes as a button manufacturer, starting out with their own designs and branching off in to vintage pieces, logo/event branding, and custom series lines. Even I've gotten onto their bandwagon, teaming up with them to do a line of buttons based on my 8 Bits designs! Now, I've taken that team up a step further by becoming an OFFICIAL SPONSOR!

They've done a TREMENDOUS job in making a name for themselves and I want to see that drive continue and evolve into something even greater! Keep a close eye out for them because I've got a feeling they're going to surprise us all even more -- AND SOON!

Welcome Back! (As if we never left)...

2011-02-08T20:51:00.001-08:00

Hello! Welcome to the first posting for Vantage:Inhouse Productions (formerly WizWorld Inc) - as you can see, there's still LOADS of work to be done to get everything back upto speed as we transition into our new home (please excuse the mess), but make no mistake, we're still working to give you our BEST creative output possible! A BIG thanks to you for making the trek over and come back soon as we have even more announcements in store and you don't want to miss a single one!

Valentines Tees Now Available!!

2011-02-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Only for the month of February, the 8 Bit Valentines are available as custom tee-shirts, EXCLUSIVELY thru Redbubble.com! Give your love the gift of COMIC BOOKY GOODNESS -- possibly the BEST gift since the invention of CHOCOLATE!

8 Bit Valentines are READY!!!

2011-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I've got a set of 8 Bit cards to commemorate this holiday of LOOOOOVE! Featuring 12 of comics' most famous couples, these sets come pre-cut and wrapped in a red ribbon, with space for your dedications!

Sets are $10, each, but I'm producing a limited run of ONLY 20 sets that I'll have on hand at Comic Town on February 12th, where I'm taking part in the fundraiser for the Comic Book Connection Initiative. If you don't want to take a chance on missing out, pre-orders ARE available (but only until the 10th of Feb; still $10 a set, plus shipping) -- just drop me an email and you're insured to make your sweetheart smile with comic booky goodness!

What's on tap!

2011-01-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

With 2011 in full swing, I'm already knee-deep in production of my HUGE workload for the year. I've given myself a challenge of producing AT LEAST 15 works (that's titles or projects, not specifically number of issues) and I'm starting this first quarter off STRONG! What's on the menu, you ask? Well, I was gonna keep it a secret, but...

- As previously referenced, Ren McKinzie and I will be kicking off The Samaritan, with the first issue coming out within the next few weeks! This is the first multi-issue work Ren and I have ever done, despite knowing each other for the last decade -- over that time, I've seen him mature as an artist (and as an old man!) and watched his art take on new life! For all the challenges setforth with this series, I'm QUITE pleased to have him navigate it with me!

- At the same time, I'm collaborating with Harold Edge(Dynagirl, Fallen Justice) on The Trouble w/Love, a one-shot that explores what would happen if the Superman-archetype displayed a bit more human weakness. I'm VERY excited to work with Harold, whose work had me hooked from the Fallen Justice (Redhanded Studios) series and to be honest, I think he's even better now!

- Returning with the series that started my self-publishing career, I'm going to make Omnibus a quarterly, anthology showcase! Here, I'll be exploring a few of my story ideas before deciding whether to make them full on series or not -- more than anything, its a challenge to myself to hone my artistic abilities and take my skills to the next level!

I hope I've sufficiently whetted your whistle, but rest assured, I've got a couple things up my sleeve that I'm playing close to the chest for now -- but there are some BIG things coming from WizWorld Inc and I can't wait to take you all on the ride!

The Official 8 Bit Catalogs!

2011-01-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've gone thru and collected the ENTIRETY of my 8 Bit Character designs -- volumes 1 AND 2 -- for a total of 166 fan favorite characters from Marvel and DC! And if your REALLY feeling these designs, head over to Redbubble.com or Skreened.com to purchase your own graphic tees, hoodies and more! But in the meantime, spend the next few minutes finding YOUR favorite characters in the 8 Bit Catalog, published exclusively thru Issuu.com!

Vol #1 - Here's where the fun began! What was JUST supposed to be 8 designs for the 2010 Champion City Con, QUICKLY (in 3 days!) became a collection 100 designs strong!

Vol #2 - With the fan outcry for more of their favorite characters, I HAD to return with a 2nd volume of 8 Bit designs! Now with more villains, more heroes -- both the classic and obscure -- Vol 2 is some of the best designs yet!

Enjoy!

Taking it to the Streets...

2011-01-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

As a child, I often accompanied my mom to rehersals and the like (she's an AWESOME Gospel music piano player and singer!) and before we left, she would always say, "Make sure you bring something to occupy yourself!" Now, this was before I found my heart in drawing or comics, so it would often be my favorite toy of the hour! But, as a creator, that phrase stands as THE source of inspiration for my next, major marketing promotion. My creative peer and fellow comic editorialist, Tyler James stated in a recent column that there needs to be more of an effort to put comics in the hands of kids -- a sentiment that I whole-heartedly agree with! But, while Tyler specifically was referring to the content of books, I'm taking the notion to the next level and am LITERALLY putting comics in kids hands!

I'm proud to announce, Daddy Packs -- the comic activity center that fits in a BAG! Featuring one of my Half-print books (an 8pg story, folded to fit on one page!) and four U Cre-8 Sketch Cards (an abridged version of my character creation activity book), with a pencil, eraser and crayons -- they're a surefire way occupy a young one, while simultaneously promoting both comics and creativity!
I'll take some with me wherever I go and if I see a kid suffering a bit of idle-mindedness, I'll pass one along (with parental allowance, of course)! As a parent, I KNOW how handy something like these can be!!!

You're OOOOOONE in a THOUSAND...

2011-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

Just a few days before the end of 2010, I posted on Facebook that if I could hit 1000 views by Jan 1st, I'd do a "bonus" strip to commemorate the occurrence. Apparently, there's a lot of love for WizWorld Inc out there, because I'm now just a few clicks shy of 1100, a full hundred more than I had hoped for! Not a bad way to start to the year -- now to heading back to the studio to keep the momentum going!

Thank you all!

V.

For My Mum...

2010-12-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

So...my Mom, in an OVERWHELMING display of support, bought a pair of the Utrecht/Converse ultra-canvas tennis shoes -- I raffled off a pair at this years Mid-Ohio Con and she thought I should have a pair on display! At the show, I started working on hers, a special request of Batman and Robin -- and just before Christmas, I finally finished them!

Year End Review!

2010-12-20T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm both shocked and amazed that the end of the year has come upon us so fast! As a bourgeoning entrepreneur, I think its a healthy dose of reality to look at how effective my efforts have been throughtout the year. Its a little strange to jot down your pros and cons -- each little tidbit staring you in the face; its a challenge to not whip out the bold tip sharpie for the good side and chicken-scratch in the bad -- but to hey with it, right?! This is about GROWTH!

So, this year, I've done a smashing job of establishing WWI from more than the conceptual label I've been drawing under for the last few years, into a bona fide self-publishing brand!

"Omnibus," was a successful exploration into the PROCESS of self-publishing -- where I backed my ideas of a "low investment/immediate profit" model.

"Doing a Bid" was more content-centric and I've been quite pleased with how a few beginning artists have taken to the notions and concepts.

The Mini-pulps were an amazing joy to do, finally finding a use for some of the one-note stories I had written over the years, AND, I finally felt a comfort as an artist to have completed the illustrations for each book. Truly, as an artist, this year has been my best in a LONG TIME -- the 8 Bits have been my BEST work to date!

There were some hiccups this year along the way too: I didn't get to work the theatre much this year, the kickball tourney didn't pan out as planned, but the biggest of all has been my dependancy as an artist. Surely, I can chalk it up to time management, but I know I truly have a lack of confidence that I'm working thru. Its a matter of not having focused on art for the last 10yrs and I'm working to make up that ground as quickly as I can. There's a joy to it that I'm rediscovering and that gives me a tremendous amount of hope for next year!

So in summation, this year was good, but it certainly could be better and if I'm to make as big a splash as I hope, then I've got to get further on my grind and get more done --as both a writer AND an artist. I'll give myself a solid B- for this year, an A's not too far away, but neither is a C...

Moving Forward!

2010-12-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

I'm VERY pleased to announce that the U Cre-8 Comics line will be a part of the 2011 Summer Reading Program through the Columbus Metropolitan Library! While only the first step, this was the CORNER STONE in my plan to work within the Columbus City School system! I want to use comics and talking about comics as a tool to reinforce classroom foundations and dynamics, and generally stimulate creativity in young minds!

For more information on the Summer Reading Program check out the Columbus Library and while you're at it, visit U Cre-8 Comics as well!

A Look Behind the Curtain

2010-12-12T14:02:00.000-08:00

As always, I'm attempting to push the limits of what can be done with a comic -- its become as much my signature as just about anything else I do! With The Samaritan, I'd like to explore both the means and the quantities comic stories need to be consumed thru. While the standard count of a comic is roughly 22pgs, each chapter of The Samaritan is "only" 8pgs and that creates a very interesting challenge in getting across the EPICNESS of the story in the allotted room.

To help with this, I've aimed for using a 9-Panel grid system to control the flow and pace of the story. But as always, its with a twist! Here's the mock-up of the page structure I sent to Ren, along with the first script to give him a better idea for how the grid would come into play. This is probably the most extensive tool in writing I've ever used -- does this mean I'm growing as a writer?! I certainly hope so!

Ren sounded pretty confident in making sense of the whole thing and I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting his results! My hope is that with this one, we'll be applauded, not only for the story we've set out to tell, but the ambitious way we've set to tell it!

Defining Unconventions!

2010-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

I love comics; I love reading them, I love writing them and I even love drawing them (a little!). But now I've gained a new love: writing ABOUT them, and I've been lucky enough to have my musings featured at Comicrelated.com, thru my new column series, UNCONVENTIONAL!

Spending the last few years really DELVING into the inner workings of the comic industry, I've developed a few RADICAL ideas for how to affect comic readership and general interest in the comic form. Quite a few of those ideas shape the how's and why's I go about making comics. If you get a second, check 'em out and let me know what you think -- some healthy dialogue is a surefire way to make sure comics flourish and reclaim their standing as an American pastime!

Unconventional pt1 - Could breaking up the mainstream into age-based groups help introduce and maintain new readers?
Unconventional pt2 - With the Big Two polarized, how can the self-publishing can fill the gap?
Unconventional pt3 - How can publishers take up the fight to intrigue new readers?

Help is on the way!

2010-11-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

A while back I had posted a number of title headings I had done with the intention that they'd be stories featured in Omnibus #1. Alas, there were a few that were more notables than features, one of which being my quiet little superhero epic, The Samaritan. BUT NOW...I'm happy to announce that the Samaritan is green lit and gearing up to go! Featuring the artwork of my good friend, REN McKINZIE, The Samaritan will be a seven chapter series, first released via Issuu sometime in February, with our first print run available at 2011's C2E2!

I just finished the first script and I gotta tell ya -- ITS AWESOME!!! Stay tuned for more news coming soon!!!

O-H M-Y! The Aftermath of Mid-Ohio Con

2010-11-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

The dust is settling, the crowds have dispersed and I'm sitting here in the afterglow of a fun-filled weekend in my hometown from the Mid-Ohio Con! Big thanks to EVERYONE who stopped by, ESPECIALLY those who were kind enough to chat me up and/or purchase one of my wares! I tell ya, the 8 Bits were a HUGE success and I can't wait to do EVEN MORE of the volume 2 set! Actually, I gotta take a sec and showcase these pieces done by Mike Eshelman -- I met him at MOC, where he was showcasing his Perler Beads and we're gonna work together with him producing bead versions of my 8 Bit designs! He's an AWESOME creator and I'm SOOOOO STOKED to work with him -- check some of his stuff:

Also, I'm making some GREAT strides on the U Cre-8 Comics Line -- head over to my sister site, www.u-cre-8comics.blogspot.com where you can see a preview of the first edition activity book AND where I'm putting up the rest of my 30 Character submissions for the duration of the contest!

And last but not least, I'm retiring my runs of Omnibus #1 and Doing A Bid! I've had just under a year's worth of promoting them and am ready to move on to some new projects (which ones, you ask...?!) -- STAY TUNED because I have some announcements COMING SOON!!!