Man oh man! The Dark Knight was absolutely brilliant. The more I think about it the more I think just how amazing it is. I think I have driven some of co-workers and friends a tad crazy just qouting the film. I have a bit of a knack for impressions and apparently my Joker is spot on. If you haven't seen this one yet, I highly recommend you to. The only thing I will say is that I felt sometimes like it wanted to be two movies at one time. 1) A hugely engrossing crime film and 2) a comic book movie. It succeeds at being both perfectly when each is in their element, but sometimes when the two collide I ended up having to bring myself back in. It was pretty glorious though. Joker's magic trick is still my favorite part.

Also the Watchmen trailer hit this week as well. The Watchmen is a movie I think most of us have wanted to see for far longer than we can remember and to finally see a working trailer for it was absolutely amazing. I was talking with Josh about it and he said he thought he would enjoy the movie better because he hasn't read the graphic novel. I told him that I felt that because the book is so complex and layered, I really think I will just be happy if it makes sense. I have no idead how they will be able to pack all of that into a film that is presentable, but so far so good. Here's the trailer:



Finally again, we are at the cliffhanger for the last major reveal of chapter 2. I expect to have a couple of versions to share next week of the page. Maybe some color action? Could be. Depending on my time.

Thanks everyone.

That's right folks FDTN is officially one year old today on the web. I simply can not believe it. What began as a tribute to my grandfather's life has become something far more than I could have ever imagined. I am so proud of the work I have done with this book. I've stayed the course and have yet to miss a single update. I continue to be ahead of schedule and I only have high hopes for the potential of this work.

I've learned so much throughout the course of this year about what it takes to create one of these things. I look back at the early artwork and websites and I see nothing but growth in my own abilities, which is encouraging. I look forward to a second year of creating this book for all of you. I hope you've enjoyed the ride so far. I remain committed to this book and seeing to it that George and Virgil make it to the end of their journey.

One of the things I wanted to do for this special moment in this comic's history is make available to everyone out there some of the earliest artwork created for this book. In fact much of it the is original artwork pages used in the earliest version of this story. These pieces will never go for sale again and represent a distinct moment in the history of this comic. The artwork is familiar yet so alien when comparing it to the current pages, but it was there that the seeds were planted for the epic that this work has become (I say epic because that's the way it feels when I consider how far we have to go!)

So if you would like to own an original piece of my art AND get something that truly represents this comic at its inception this is the time to do so. You can view them at the PROMO PAGE. This offer is only good until September so please move quickly because once a piece is sold it is no longer available.

Finally, I just wanted to say to all of you that you guys are what keeps me excited about this book. I don't want to let all of you down the way I have been with other books on the web. I hope you've found in FDTN a book that is unique and only bound to get better. Thank you so much!

Well this weekend was, of course, the 4th of July weekend here in the states and I hope everyone had a good one. Mine was pretty much what its always like. Visited with my family, swam in the pool, ate some barbeque,and watched a few episodes of the X-Files in the evening. All in all, good times.

In the comic/art news:

I have been swimming in FDTN pages lately. Which is a great thing. I've been really inspired by Steve Ogden's talks lately in his Moontown podcasts, about production time. I've stated many times that the production rate on FDTN is far too slow and frankly I am just glad all of you have been as patient as you have. I am really happy with the look of FDTN now. I think its hit its stride as far as the art is concerned in finding a balance between quality and production. Much of the earlier pages were more focused on a production standard. The recent pages have been an attempt to bring a balance to all of that.

The current attempt on my part is to try and pencil and ink all of book 1 ahead of my normal update schedule. What I hope this will do is get me past a huge amount of the work load which is just writing and thumbnailing the book. I then will be just in a post production type thing, bringing the book to a finished product. Which will be hopefully be faster. We shall see. Though just know that I am really hoping to get this thing out quicker.

At any rate, I hope you all like the new page. I think it came out decent. Thanks again everyone. Next week is a special week as we hit the one year anniversary for FDTN on the web. Maybe I'll have some cool stuff to share with everyone as a way of celebration.

The biggest news of the past week is that my wife and I will be having a girl! We were both very excited as a girl is what we were both kind hoping for. Though obviously we just hope for the baby to be healthy. Well so far so good. Our daughter's name is going to be Story. So, thought I would share that with everyone!

On to news with the comic here. In light of all of the projects going on I've had to scale back my over zealous self and refocus. What that has basically meant is that I've had to put some of my other comics projects on hold. Not FDTN though! That may seem like an "oh, well duh" moment for some, but for me its been kinda hard. One of the things I struggle with in creating comics or anything is just the time it takes to create these things. It takes a lot of time to write, draw, ink, grayshade, maintain the website, promote the book blah blah blah. Not to sound complainy, cause I'm not, I'm just being honest with everything. So while projects like The Unknowns is a huge project on my plate that I am just itching to attack, I have to step back and refocus. The good news for FDTN is that it means that I am putting most of my energy into it. And trust me it needs it.

The entire third chapter from a writing perspective has proven to be the most difficult without a doubt. It's a very kind of character focused chapter and sets up the last act of the first book. So I have spent a lot of time rewriting it, rethinking it and just plain mulling it over. Another thing is that the first book as a whole is turning out to be longer than expected. So some sort of refocusing needs to happen. I enjoy the paced storytelling freedom I get to have here, but I want to finish this story before I'm forty!

Another thing that has been weighing on me is how I am going to get the older pages up to snuff with the more recent stuff. I really feel like you guys have a huge stake in this book as well so I am hoping to hear your feedback on it. Drop me an email at to share with me if you think the pages will hold up once we get into time to print the book.

Other than that I keep plugging away at the end of chapter 2. I'm almost done drawing all of the pages so that's good. It's nice to be able to at least see the ink work for all of the pages. I plan to get back to updating the vote incentive images here soon, but I kinda got caught in a bad period where I was finishing pages right at my deadline which has never been a good thing. But that's been remedied.

This weekend was a pretty special one for my wife and I. My father came into town. He lives up in New York where he works. It was the first time we'd had anyone come and stay with us at our house which was nice. I actually hadn't even seen him for about a year and a half. So we all just sort of relaxed with one another and spent time visiting with him and my grandparents. Which is always nice to see everyone. He left this morning and I won't see him until after our baby is born.

On the baby front: We're going to find out the baby's sex this week. People keep asking if we want to know the sex of not. To which I respond with a resounding, YES! I can't see a reason why I wouldn't. Mainly though I want to start getting things prepared for the young one.

Just before bed last night, my wife said the baby kicked for the first time! We were stating to get a little worried because most people had said the baby should have already started kicking. I guess my baby likes to chill. She said after I fell asleep it really started kicking. So good times, my friends. Good times.

On the last note, remember I am still doing commissions for anyone interested in getting their very own orginal piece from me. Click here to find out more information, also a host of orginal pages from the earliest version of FDTN from wayyyyy back up for sale at reasonable prices. The commissioned drawings are $25 a piece for one character. It is a finished drawing, not a quick sketch. So I hope you'd be willing to consider it and help support the book and me self.

You're all great guys. Thanks for everything.

Man, oh man. Exciting weekend. First off I saw The Happening and I loved it! I honetsly enjoyed myself tremendously. I know I'm in a big minority on this for the most part. I don't care though, it was the awesome for me. I may have to make my way back to the theater for a second screening here at some point.

Secondly, I want to put out a request for a bit of help, but not really... read on. I've posted here that I am expecting my first child in November this year. Well, as a result I am kind of having to relocate a lot of my studio. I am in the process of building a studio at my house in which I will move my things into. In creating a comic the ammount of space that is needed is pretty minimal. I basically need a table and a computer. That, however is not what the studio is needed for... Yet. Many of you may have visited my portfolio website. In there I display my portrait and fine art work that is a huge source of supplimentary income for my family. And all of that painting equipment takes up a lot of room that I just don't have space for with the new addition coming. So, my request is this. I am asking for help funding the construction of this new studio space. Though I don't just ask it without offering something as a way of saying thanks in return. I have created a special donation button (see below) that for every $25 donation (US dollars ammount) I will do a finished ink drawing of any comic character or, whatever (keep it clean folks) that you ask. One character per skecth. Additional characters can be added for each addition of $15. The drawings will completed on Acid Free 11x14 Bristol Board and blue pencil with india ink. All you have to do is donate, include a note about what you want the drawing to be and make sure to include your shipping address. Email me if your instructions won't fit the given space. In addition to all of this, for every $100 donated I will add an extra page of FDTN for the month.

It's important for me also to mention that I am a certified Paypal merchant so your payments are protected. Give your commissioned drawing about one month to be completed and delivered. I will contact you before it goes out if I have your email address. For an example of my ink work and black and white drawing please click here. Obvious lighting effects would be added to this piece in the coloring stage, but hopefully it serves as a good example.

It would mean a lot to me to see your support as I try to keep prepare for this exciting time in my life. But I want to make sure I thank you in an additional way as well with the original drawing. So if you are so inclined, please click here to donate:

Again all of your support means a great deal. I appreciate everything.

Also, don't forget to for this here comic.

This week marks what my wife and I look forward to every two years: the new M. Night Shyamalan movie comes out. I am a HUGE M. Night fan. I actually have a folder in which I have collected different magazine interviews and web interviews in. I know a lot of people don't care for him and I understand, but for me M. Night represents something we just don't have much of anymore: orginal big release movies. Honestly, look at what is coming out this summer... Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Incredible Hulk, Prince Caspian , The Dark Knight... it goes on. Now, I look forward to seeing all of these and the ones I have seen I have enjoyed. However, M. Night represents a voice of orginality. His films aren't a book that's been adapted, or a comic or a video game, but an totally unique creation for the screen. So, I admire his attempts whether they are perfect or not. I found this video series of interviews with Night that I thought were interesting and thought I would share:

The interview can be found here.

So other news. A lot of things have been changing lately, as life is want to do. I am making some efforts to get some proejcts done and out in the next few weeks and I have actually gotten quite a lot of FDTN drawn lately. But ultimately we're getting ready for the baby and so a lot of things need to be done. Its kept me kept extremely busy. These new pages have been really coming out pretty well in my opinion, but now I'm dealing with what always happens in this stuff: Time spent on the page just like doubles because I'm learning to create the mood of the new environment. So hopefully I get past that soon and can get things out quicker.

Well, I hope everyone likes the new page and I will be checking back in soon with the latest "I Make Awesome Podcast" real soon.

Ohhhh man. Not good times for George and Virgil... More crazy times follow. The odd thing about this page is that it was a really intimidating page as I went into create it, but in the it came out well and very fluidly. Sometimes that just happens.

Well, I have returned from a brief get away with my wife to the magical land of Orlando, FL where I rode quite a few rides, ate a bit too much food and probably spent more than I shoud have. It was good times none the less. So, naturally I am tired. That means this week's update will be kinda quick, but here are a few pictures from the trip that are kinda cool, with a bit of a description to go along. So enjoy and I may pop back in to add more this week, But for now sleep awaits!

This is from Poseidon's Fury at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The whole setup going into the attraction itself is well worth the experience.


This is the Millenium Falcon Legos model that they had on display at the Lego Store in Downtown Disney. It costs $499. Somebody say yeesh.


Busting the Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. I haven't had one since I was like eight.


Annnnddd the wife and I standing outside of our vacation home. We don't rent it out to people. Sorry.

So, production continues at a brisk pace on all of the projects I have in front of me and I was greeted with a surprise when I ended up adding something like five pages to the end of chapter 2 in FDTN. I had basically given some thought to a couple of things getting ready to happen in the story and felt like I hadn't done it much justice and decided it needed more. I think once everyone sees what I've done added, you'll be excited. I also finished updating the archive sections of the site to fit the new look and fixed the newbox setting that you're looking at now. We're moving forward people.

Even more I spent much of this past week doing thumbnails and rewrites on the opening sequence in "The Unknowns." I've had to do a lot of thinking about that book and it's something I will be putting a lot of work into here in the future. I will be posting a link to site for it as soon as I have some substantial stuff done.

Other than that the forum is up and I really want to encourage everyone to join and share your thoughts on the book. I will be creating some new features within the forum here in the future. Probably on Wednesday or Thursday. In the mean time, drop in and give Martin and I some company!

Well, quickly I wanted to say a thank you to the creator of Hereville for adding a link to us and for some of the other link ups I've been seeing lately in stats. I appreciate everyone's support and I hope I can deliver a good story to you guys as we contine. And more so I hope that we can get it out faster.

Annnnnnnddd lastly. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Loved it! I've seen a lot of mixed reviews from others and I can understand that, but I came away from it having really enjoyed myself. I thought it was fun, funny and an all around popcorn fest of awesome. I'll have to elaborate more at a later time. It was also awesome to see the new Dark Knight trailer on the big screen. It's gonna be a great movie summer.

Hello everyone and welcome back to a new week of FDTN pageness. I finally posted the new forum which is up and running. You can get to it here, or by clicking on the link at the top right. It's been awhile coming, but I'm excited to finally have one posted here and watching it grow. So, please sign up and let's good some good conversations going about the book and other things as well.

The latest page posed a bit of a challenge in the rewrites because I intended to give away some aspect of the nature of the creature attacking our heroes. But after reallly thinking about it, I really feel like to explain much of anything about that creature at that moment in the story would be akward. I mean can you imagine, the monster is not very far away, but Virgil is sitting there explaining things? Kinda weird. But on top of that it really is something that plays a bigger part in the story in the long run and I don't want to spoil things too early. It's been awesome seeing the speculation about the nature of the beast. I would say that research into the creature would yield real world references. Though I do take some liberties.

The new website continues its evolution. I began considering going over to Comic Press, but honestly even though I thought it was nice, its learning curve is pretty heavy. For me anyway. If anyone has assistance they can point me to, please do.

Other than that I appreciate everyone's support. Also, I wanted to know if any readers do webcomics reviews on their sites or podcasts? If so is there a way I can submit to you any information for consideration?

Well thanks everyone. Hope all is well. Keep it classy.