tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170974342024-03-07T02:55:10.263-07:00the Beginning is nearthe writing of Robert Burke RichardsonRobert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.comBlogger307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-88947523140340320582009-08-06T22:03:00.004-06:002011-01-11T15:47:51.196-07:00Absolute Magnitude<div>I should probably mention that a comic I co-created with Martin Morazzo, <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/1358">ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE</a>, is competing right now on <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/1358">Zuda.com</a>. If you'd head over there and vote for it, that'd be swell (even if you only hit this blog entry after searching for any of the following traffic-generating words -- lohan hilton free porn madonna shark anus diet -- vote for it even then).</div><div></div><br /><div>A guy talks about it <a href="http://silianrailroad.blogspot.com/2009/08/zuda-review-absolute-magnitude.html">here</a>; another guys talks about it <a href="http://leftyfilmsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/zudaaugust2009.html">here</a>; a lot of folks talk about it <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/1358">here</a>. So, y'know, <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/1358">vote for it and stuff</a>.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtruGqtd65hRK5cp8Ac1KOX6Q5dXGmsgHDHYrLOnd9dq_op0r_zOt1NeLWf1dIic9om7AJe7iCbDzM76R0ZMlNISKLJ5ROs_7j-FxP_wWw76QQ55IGFJdUUS2HqPyXTcAArR3Ww/s1600-h/c.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367070424361715778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtruGqtd65hRK5cp8Ac1KOX6Q5dXGmsgHDHYrLOnd9dq_op0r_zOt1NeLWf1dIic9om7AJe7iCbDzM76R0ZMlNISKLJ5ROs_7j-FxP_wWw76QQ55IGFJdUUS2HqPyXTcAArR3Ww/s400/c.jpg" /></a></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-53767722802077389042009-05-01T14:07:00.002-06:002009-05-01T14:14:39.479-06:00The Matriarch -- Chapter 3!<div>The third and final chapter of <a class="postlink" href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/" target="_blank">The Matriarch</a> has begun at <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/" target="_blank">http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/</a><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">mother's day</span><br /></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">The collection should be showing up in stores soon, hopefully in time for Mother's Day (<em>The Matriarch</em> is the story of a super hero who is also a single mother).</span></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">Check it out</a>. <span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">...mother's day... superhero</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcVN2BfET7Rly5NIVxpq9f3H3bWJpWIf4-I67iys13jY7WUu_d3hKvGKBsfTVmI6fu5YpAlR7w5eEvDHmE3Gt5oP1fRk9QPTclPiBidhEFxO2sKYoTmCfXr3rrliR5tv5rkyhUA/s1600-h/03+chapter+Mat+Cover+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330951322644221986" style="WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcVN2BfET7Rly5NIVxpq9f3H3bWJpWIf4-I67iys13jY7WUu_d3hKvGKBsfTVmI6fu5YpAlR7w5eEvDHmE3Gt5oP1fRk9QPTclPiBidhEFxO2sKYoTmCfXr3rrliR5tv5rkyhUA/s400/03+chapter+Mat+Cover+3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-44927269450876638902009-04-09T12:42:00.000-06:002009-04-09T12:43:26.891-06:00Permanently DamagedMany thanks to Steven Grant for mentioning <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFyY2FuYWNvbWljcy5jb20vdGhlbWF0cmlhcmNoLw==" target="_self">The Matriarch</a> in his weekly column, <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vY29taWNib29rcmVzb3VyY2VzLmNvbS8/cGFnZT1hcnRpY2xlJmlkPTIwNzQw" target="_self">Permanent Damage</a>, especially since it's <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vYmxvZ3MubXlzcGFjZS5jb20vaW5kZXguY2ZtP2Z1c2VhY3Rpb249YmxvZy52aWV3JmZyaWVuZElkPTExMzQ5MDY1MSZibG9nSWQ9NDc0NDI0NjE5" target="_self">still available to order</a>.<br /><br />Was also reminded that Steven wrote the <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnBhcGVyY3V0ei5jb20vY2xhc3NpY3MvaGFtbGV0L2hhbWxldGhvbWUyLmh0bWw=" target="_self">Hamlet comic</a> that allowed me to pass the "prove you read it" quiz back in high-school (I eventually read the play -- and starred in a production of it, too -- I'm just a slow reader).Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-5740928562569369732009-03-13T16:18:00.002-06:002009-03-13T16:26:04.130-06:00Sci-Fi DateFor some reason I always wanted to write a wacky, sci-fi/superhero date, and ended up finally doing it in chapter 2 of <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/"><em>The Matriarch</em></a> (pre-order it now at your local comic shop, or at least <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">read the webcomic</a>!). The emotional through-line here is the typical stuff you go through on a first date: social maneuvering, demonstrating ones attractive attributes, and also -- in this case -- a little bit of one-upsmanship.<br /><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=banner3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/banner3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The concept inside of which this all plays out, however, is an aggressive alien thought making itself manifest in the ground beneath Leviathan City. TechnoKill has seen this sort of thing before, but never penetrated all the way to the third level, where the meat of the thought is kept. The Matriarch is new to it all, but has a lot more than Tech in the way of superpowers, and so is able to hold her own pretty well.<br /><br />Looking back, I'm pretty proud of it as a dramatic unit. Steven (Yarbrough, co-creator of <em>The Matriarch</em>) drew the whole thing pretty quickly, and it's definitely got a different feel to it than the first or third chapters. It's a classic journey to the underworld motif, with the super-powered duo penetrating deeper and deeper into the ground (and the alien thought) until…<br /><br />…well, I guess that would still be spoiling at this point. But it's no accident that our cover image for chapter 2 looks like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=backcover.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/backcover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, pre-order the book (it's on page 197 of Previews, order code MAR094065) or <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">follow along online</a> (we update with new pages every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and let me know if you think I did the concept of the sci-fi date justice.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">feminist feminism women comic comics mothers sex mother's day</span>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-40873105831876375932009-02-22T20:47:00.001-07:002009-02-22T20:49:26.249-07:00A Strong Woman... Literally<a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/index.php?id=a87ff6794"><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Cover1w_logo.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Cover1w_logo.jpg" border="0" /></a></a><br />Superhero comics are often described as being white adolescent male power fantasies, which is, in my opinion, exactly what they are. That’s one bit of conventional wisdom that seems clear. Exactly what it means in terms of having, say, a woman in the lead role, however, is less clear. Does one need to subvert the traditional male power fantasy and create, instead, a female power fantasy? Do women even have power fantasies?<br /><br />It seems to me that most women do have power fantasies (and the ones that don’t probably aren’t reading superhero comics). If we take as a given that superhero stories are, at least in part, power fantasies, is there a basic power fantasy common to both the male and female (as well as people of other colours, cultures, and sexual orientations) variations?<br /><br /><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/mat-fly.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/mat-fly.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It seems to me -- again -- that there is, and that the commonality is the very thing intrinsic to all superheroic fiction: the presence of characters with extraordinary powers, talents, or psychological traits. Where the story goes from there -- who has the power, what they use it for, and how the super individual relates to the world around them -- is where most of the differences come in.<br /><br />We all, though, I think, can agree that being invulnerable could have its uses. Being able to turn invisible, too (though whether this one breaks down as females fantasizing about turning invisible so as not to be seen, and males fantasizing about turning invisible so they can look at women -- though not the invisible ones, of course -- or if those generalizations don’t really apply, is an open question). Most of us, I think, have wondered what it might be like to fly.<br /><br /><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/matriarch_phone.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/matriarch_phone.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In <em><a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">The Matriarch</a></em>, the <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">webcomic I do with Steven Yarbrough</a> about a superhero who is also a single mom, the power fantasy plays out largely as having the power to help the ones you love. Again, this is something I think most of us can relate to (although it doesn’t strike me as a particularly <em>adolescent</em> trait). Sherry, our protagonist, enjoys having and using her powers. There are times when she gets into trouble, of course -- times when things go poorly despite her making all the right choices -- but, generally speaking, having power beats having had no power.<br /><br />We’ve been running for about a month now -- updating every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday -- and the majority of folks I’ve gotten feedback from (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=45d1cd2e0f6dc2be3e3ed5a0589a89e4&gid=51058747368">facebook</a>, <a href="http://elf-help.blogspot.com/2009/01/matriarch.html">blogger</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thepurelands">MySpace</a>) are female (though that may be sample bias owing to the relatively small sample size).<br /><br />As a writer, the most interesting thing about superhero stories (which, again, I see as largely white male power fantasies) is seeing what happens with someone else in the driver’s seat, whether it’s <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/">a woman</a>, <a href="http://elf-help.blogspot.com/search?q=old+school">old people</a>, or even an <a href="http://superpetmojo.sugaryserials.com/2008/02/10/2008-02-10_superpetmojo-5m/">alien pet</a>. But ultimately, in terms of expanded horizons (both for comics as a medium and for human beings), do we want to expand white male power fantasies to include everybody, or do we need to erect new fantasies reflecting the needs, wants, and desires of other people with other experiences? Are we ultimately more alike than we are different, or are we more different than we are alike?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">women comics feminism feminist matriarch webcomic</span>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-46253296581267262832009-01-21T23:40:00.000-07:002009-01-21T23:41:17.580-07:00fewer let'sI think I've just about given up on the apostrophe in "let's" -- it seems to be dying out rapidly (replaced by the sleeker "lets"), and I'm tired of fighting for it.<br /><br />I am, however, holding on to "fewer." It's been over a year since I've heard anyone other than myself use it, as "less" expands beyond its neighbouring kingdom to take over the lingual territory formerly claimed by "fewer." (eg. "I have less jelly beans than you." "I realized recently there are less days ahead than behind.")Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-25110437500168322572009-01-18T15:29:00.002-07:002009-01-18T15:41:49.638-07:00The MatriarchThis is a place for comments on my webcomic, <a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/"><em>The Matriarch</em></a>, which updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday -- leave some, so I won't feel embarrassed!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.arcanacomics.com/thematriarch/"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/banner3text.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-3419600286550362112009-01-13T22:33:00.004-07:002009-01-13T23:09:37.169-07:00OLD SCHOOL: Pin Me Up!Putting the files together for the <em>OLD SCHOOL</em> OGN, and I'd love to fill it out with a few pin-ups. If you're an artist and would like to contribute something, send it to me by January 20th at littlemanfromfaraway //at// yahoo.com. If you'd like to contribute something but need a little more than a week to fit it in, drop me a line and I'll hold a slot for you. I'll have room for 4 or 5 pin-ups.<br /><br /> <em>OLD SCHOOL</em> is the story of a team of really old superheroes coming together for the first time.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzEmrrWH3cmTST-iaLJW78EP_gKtwkScpRId3u0BWwtghWR8uCFy4WrKYDuZC_J3FCaRZm4XjvhBNuzdy2BFlLN1iTQpsxffraODpv4wHD7FVEL0prgyJ4_lwR5c8DAKW03aYng/s1600-h/00Cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291020731270722034" style="WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzEmrrWH3cmTST-iaLJW78EP_gKtwkScpRId3u0BWwtghWR8uCFy4WrKYDuZC_J3FCaRZm4XjvhBNuzdy2BFlLN1iTQpsxffraODpv4wHD7FVEL0prgyJ4_lwR5c8DAKW03aYng/s400/00Cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0o4pMowngNOPnl0l2_un-nSZxjvAdUw5aIaWRj-wRGaEsJ2mFAN9y7arDBVrRQp2cZbz0n2e8NbCsq_QbU8mp_2PK6yOwVWqkMCx_b2ickRgiwx2ebEEHZEjT-_UzmpKg268Qw/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291020735081376466" style="WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0o4pMowngNOPnl0l2_un-nSZxjvAdUw5aIaWRj-wRGaEsJ2mFAN9y7arDBVrRQp2cZbz0n2e8NbCsq_QbU8mp_2PK6yOwVWqkMCx_b2ickRgiwx2ebEEHZEjT-_UzmpKg268Qw/s400/01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In order of appearance in the image above, the cast is: <strong>Ace</strong>, a WWII-era fighter pilot. He has no powers, but he kind of looks like William Shatner. <strong>Strong-Arm</strong>, Ace's former side-kick and the youngest of the group at 69 -- he has super strength and a bad back. <strong>Weather Girl</strong>, who controls the weather and uses a walker. <strong>The Zeppelin</strong> is a super-suave ladies man whose suit puffs up and lets him fly. <strong>The Stare</strong> has eye-beam power like Cyclops, but his cataracts sometimes make his beams go astray.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sfuaR6mZ67R2cZCZVzuY2YUbfKHR2h7dwkXnhBBglkLmP4N7kPhszLKGpWvUGNoxBiuKbn6smK_gBB1btMFcWrjm7cD80cnwzCRBgilu9V5x-qKhKzNmGIM7JzBm7PzSTJXWMA/s1600-h/Rex.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291020741978797698" style="WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sfuaR6mZ67R2cZCZVzuY2YUbfKHR2h7dwkXnhBBglkLmP4N7kPhszLKGpWvUGNoxBiuKbn6smK_gBB1btMFcWrjm7cD80cnwzCRBgilu9V5x-qKhKzNmGIM7JzBm7PzSTJXWMA/s400/Rex.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Old School's arch-nemesis is <strong>Rex Imperius</strong>, who sort of looks like an elderly Steve Buscemi. He can turn into a big, mean dinosaur.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWBoZYTuhDSIlxliFojWPvy80NgzTmi6X7izSE6huhyphenhyphenThyorL7uBulveV6n74GajHO6KrRIg8SqyIWtAWQEa4BtV2_Em3oH9VWWemQexliAK37Ko46vYfIqCPaK8J9XLzC56Osg/s1600-h/OS_2_24_brown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291020740238246370" style="WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWBoZYTuhDSIlxliFojWPvy80NgzTmi6X7izSE6huhyphenhyphenThyorL7uBulveV6n74GajHO6KrRIg8SqyIWtAWQEa4BtV2_Em3oH9VWWemQexliAK37Ko46vYfIqCPaK8J9XLzC56Osg/s400/OS_2_24_brown.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcRX379NlOV1BHhcQb6tnfGAMo_3WIs4g2CLKj1rRJuPvUQ30h2GbdeSwgiwR9ppwM2BB8JpfOQc4XUTi1umbnR50kKXiRN0M3bUneUvlwPIVZCbOAU8qJQOw2zuoaMLtL58YTw/s1600-h/OS_3_15clrtf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291020744655714146" style="WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcRX379NlOV1BHhcQb6tnfGAMo_3WIs4g2CLKj1rRJuPvUQ30h2GbdeSwgiwR9ppwM2BB8JpfOQc4XUTi1umbnR50kKXiRN0M3bUneUvlwPIVZCbOAU8qJQOw2zuoaMLtL58YTw/s400/OS_3_15clrtf.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />More images below, and even more <a href="http://elf-help.blogspot.com/search?q=old+school">here</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0Pe3swreynTaLmChwQ-s3y2lutQ2UVBWqvo75G4mPgxq75eM6lkGHZxJwMv3pjjGS5gDj2laAEhvaKsRwLhtYgETj7i4ZSTPPIgidrWopwtXyM5SBmhuLLdPtBfAX4sEDrc2vw/s1600-h/Characters_Color_1a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291021418794358834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0Pe3swreynTaLmChwQ-s3y2lutQ2UVBWqvo75G4mPgxq75eM6lkGHZxJwMv3pjjGS5gDj2laAEhvaKsRwLhtYgETj7i4ZSTPPIgidrWopwtXyM5SBmhuLLdPtBfAX4sEDrc2vw/s400/Characters_Color_1a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUYhF7JD_8muhQ9Cc7PaU_xvYaTLPnTZ84wrfY3ySsYrZG71RMc4540LUGscjE2S3Yy6G85X4gRC1W4YzrcoYfi-xdN0GZqfIIjArh-pWFvrDcnA07OWljiolg1KTq_g_wFXgdA/s1600-h/os+zop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291021417121627106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 192px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUYhF7JD_8muhQ9Cc7PaU_xvYaTLPnTZ84wrfY3ySsYrZG71RMc4540LUGscjE2S3Yy6G85X4gRC1W4YzrcoYfi-xdN0GZqfIIjArh-pWFvrDcnA07OWljiolg1KTq_g_wFXgdA/s400/os+zop.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jmvvcRQmontl4SSSIwh1uWIe-BzXwv2Z-xvf0Ey0pBfSZnv1jMtpaUS10l81z7u1r4glFmRtdSBwFGJTsXY4tocJrpKMC0wNeo48wztddD0RJb4FBTqeVb4VMebT3wpKNfB0pQ/s1600-h/walkin'.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291021421987849074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jmvvcRQmontl4SSSIwh1uWIe-BzXwv2Z-xvf0Ey0pBfSZnv1jMtpaUS10l81z7u1r4glFmRtdSBwFGJTsXY4tocJrpKMC0wNeo48wztddD0RJb4FBTqeVb4VMebT3wpKNfB0pQ/s400/walkin'.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9XLZmglZSCNydHVm5YMVNtYpFgW5Gzmw7hrClp3B0WP5OqtoLi3nRkZnxPtahatuNiORLt3JcRSCcZQmScvml3YjLG3qBeM3x73rn60Db8QynlLsAzlBNp_xuoAPVAtKiY0QBA/s1600-h/OS_3_06clrtf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291021423889965250" style="WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9XLZmglZSCNydHVm5YMVNtYpFgW5Gzmw7hrClp3B0WP5OqtoLi3nRkZnxPtahatuNiORLt3JcRSCcZQmScvml3YjLG3qBeM3x73rn60Db8QynlLsAzlBNp_xuoAPVAtKiY0QBA/s400/OS_3_06clrtf.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-26602312041203302742009-01-12T00:55:00.005-07:002009-01-12T01:07:41.292-07:00How to Make a Comic Page<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonB18qelJnUaDNJnl2qS3leIL7vbyz1kNATCe9PMwfWSXdYLJC14IAcEYGLfjUWUaWEVbnuQ5v00xD0PJRwSgEGWrQ9F2ylkxMmTubsOypaQ0cuVaIVVng_dELreszAeoZOSZzA/s1600-h/09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290314858211089698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 181px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonB18qelJnUaDNJnl2qS3leIL7vbyz1kNATCe9PMwfWSXdYLJC14IAcEYGLfjUWUaWEVbnuQ5v00xD0PJRwSgEGWrQ9F2ylkxMmTubsOypaQ0cuVaIVVng_dELreszAeoZOSZzA/s400/09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Artist Jim Rodgers takes you <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vMy1wdS5ibG9nc3BvdC5jb20vMjAwOC8xMC9ldm9sdXRpb24tb2YtcGFnZS5odG1s" target="_self">step by step through the creation of a page</a> from <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/3pu/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=20705&page=1"><em>BrainStorm</em></a>.<br /><div><br />***<br /><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFyY2FuYWNvbWljcy5jb20vdGhlbWF0cmlhcmNoLw==" target="_self"><em>The Matriarch</em> updates</a>! (As it does every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.)<br /><br />***<br />And I love Da-De-O restaurant so much <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmRhZGVvLmNhLw==" target="_self">I'm on the website</a> (right after the Mississippi Mud). </div></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-24064097106434838142008-12-28T20:20:00.004-07:002008-12-28T20:37:28.285-07:00Magistria: Realm of the Sorceror<a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Magistria.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 317px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 477px" alt="" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Magistria.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is an anthology I contributed to many years ago that has since gone out of print. I'm making this page so I have somewhere to link to when I mention it.<br /><br />It was reviewed by <a href="http://www.brucedurham.ca/page24.html">Bruce Durham</a>, and by David A. Olson at <a href="http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.asp?book=605">SFReader</a>. I'll repost the parts of the reviews relevant to my story, "The Metal Mages," since those are the sections most interesting to me. :)<br /><br />Here's Bruce's take:<br /><br /><em>Onark can't understand why the girl is reluctant to become an Automaton, thereby achieving immortality. And then young Luje attempts to save her. This science-as-magic tale is well written and intriguing. A nice, smooth read with a disturbing finish.</em><br /><br />David considered "The Metal Mages" the best story in the book, and says:<br /><br /><em>A boy follows a girl who was sacrificed up a mountain to save her from the metal mages. Two shocking surprises await the reader at the conclusion of this short, gripping tale. I hope that this story's plot line is followed up on in the future books planned for this anthology. Could make for some exciting sequels!</em>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-7546694372978871432008-12-19T03:13:00.003-07:002008-12-19T03:22:12.613-07:00New Stuff<a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=113490651&blogID=410506173"><em>BrainStorm</em></a> from <a href="http://3-pu.blogspot.com/">Jim Rodgers</a> and <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/javilaparra/">Javi Laparra</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aBdFfuyo7BlHwQDRlPYbJu1-OMkfJPJohLrz5hH4tAjhyEf85WuDjZyBgo6sPtYM3p_3sxQZ2wwHCw_anp1Si8444BxmOsDODJaOmCi8hWaZHhFOCRbwFdDtg7q6khZQAg-YEQ/s1600-h/BS_001006+web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281442707648656274" style="WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aBdFfuyo7BlHwQDRlPYbJu1-OMkfJPJohLrz5hH4tAjhyEf85WuDjZyBgo6sPtYM3p_3sxQZ2wwHCw_anp1Si8444BxmOsDODJaOmCi8hWaZHhFOCRbwFdDtg7q6khZQAg-YEQ/s400/BS_001006+web.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>Horrorama</em> from <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/pj/">PJ</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEEGD5jvuhyPIEVGFtH7TkGjYW_yhewOBQ2e0-q4EVNB6b7NEOpqr-JnKOmvWLKmR6vmYKdtfRuuD1nCsSW69DziNmALje5Ndc54UYo6ZjZlgOZdulCP_A8oKYk59POxOpMN_aw/s1600-h/Horrorama_PG_08%5Bpreview%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281442717713641762" style="WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEEGD5jvuhyPIEVGFtH7TkGjYW_yhewOBQ2e0-q4EVNB6b7NEOpqr-JnKOmvWLKmR6vmYKdtfRuuD1nCsSW69DziNmALje5Ndc54UYo6ZjZlgOZdulCP_A8oKYk59POxOpMN_aw/s400/Horrorama_PG_08%5Bpreview%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And a science fiction story from <a href="http://mmcomics.com.ar/">Martin Morazzo</a>:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ElWqrIQ4EMdODOcwyluaV6b-hHVz-ndsz_FcYnfRfdezXOVkUM34kKwgDydfVYwlRgjctRHbDUfXbmNZv2eRjYTrtr_KiVb2XNN4rTsWqIVVCKLhHfwtntXvZkLp3OKVjE2XgA/s1600-h/01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281442720526576882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ElWqrIQ4EMdODOcwyluaV6b-hHVz-ndsz_FcYnfRfdezXOVkUM34kKwgDydfVYwlRgjctRHbDUfXbmNZv2eRjYTrtr_KiVb2XNN4rTsWqIVVCKLhHfwtntXvZkLp3OKVjE2XgA/s400/01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />These are all at the pitch stage right now.Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-78807456800001152302008-12-17T01:27:00.005-07:002008-12-17T01:37:58.814-07:00Pictures with Guns<div>Yes, I'm still alive. Fool.<br /><br />And, for some reason, I've been watching lots of film noir and writing stories involving crimes and guns, which is something I don't normally do.<br /><br />Here's a peek at something called MemNoir I'm working on with the hyper-talented <a href="http://www.myspace.com/andreameneghin">Andrea Menghin</a>: </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8FdoSrHZcAvaMv3XdYLT6i-IvfB3Sg7s3PhTeRCQHCH4RlKUWvz_CncELVNKqyVZXpPY1oh4i880PdQaIOmHHia2YK9oEoD3ZkmZAXwEOp5_1QVaYFAJ3ZpT9GFIJhQk3Wd_6g/s1600-h/Memnoir-web_7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280673311738111842" style="WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8FdoSrHZcAvaMv3XdYLT6i-IvfB3Sg7s3PhTeRCQHCH4RlKUWvz_CncELVNKqyVZXpPY1oh4i880PdQaIOmHHia2YK9oEoD3ZkmZAXwEOp5_1QVaYFAJ3ZpT9GFIJhQk3Wd_6g/s400/Memnoir-web_7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>And here's a peek at something called... something. By the magnificent... someone. (I'm not really sure I'm allowed to talk about this one yet; hence the coyness.)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX3Hx6Vo9wKf0otIdzzPjX0vLT4u-iVMy_H2QA2S6306DpRjeXLGb-V79-gRBxDl3LKdpy-bN8dSPqrBzEekSep7Fak1wehkGZm3rXXE4NFfFn3smCu8zNgz-g7lNqrt_Jr73VQ/s1600-h/web+3-1-p10-p.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280673513966317826" style="WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGX3Hx6Vo9wKf0otIdzzPjX0vLT4u-iVMy_H2QA2S6306DpRjeXLGb-V79-gRBxDl3LKdpy-bN8dSPqrBzEekSep7Fak1wehkGZm3rXXE4NFfFn3smCu8zNgz-g7lNqrt_Jr73VQ/s400/web+3-1-p10-p.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />A million others <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/robert/">here</a> if you're bored... </div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-72458321179242620112008-06-28T20:39:00.003-06:002008-12-08T15:16:54.232-07:00Dark Worlds #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91YsQZgnxnbWyNudeO-ErQUptyENiZJfcHPsDA4LZR0bYakIbHn2kJ5DiC8CBjHfR7wpQHXR7En6yYg4S6LGoCuP5pA-dw71ZB7C5-F2n_zuXVyGDdkqUWeNQxyyZGTUsJsgoaQ/s1600-h/DarkWorlds1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217128325295988674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91YsQZgnxnbWyNudeO-ErQUptyENiZJfcHPsDA4LZR0bYakIbHn2kJ5DiC8CBjHfR7wpQHXR7En6yYg4S6LGoCuP5pA-dw71ZB7C5-F2n_zuXVyGDdkqUWeNQxyyZGTUsJsgoaQ/s400/DarkWorlds1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>The premiere issue of DARK WORLDS, a quarterly magazine of "Pulp-descended" fiction, featuring science fiction, fantasy, horror, dark fantasy, mystery, sword and sorcery, mystery, suspense, action-adventure tales illustrated in the old Pulp manner. </div><div> </div><div>This issue features C. J. Burch's novella "In the Service of the All-Father" (sword and sorcery), Bret Tallman's "Red Engine" (dark fantasy), David Bain's "Fifteen Minutes" (suspense), G. W. Thomas' "Heller" (weird western), J. F. Gonzalez's "The Revenge of Cthulhu" (horror), Joel Jenkins' space opera novella "The Investment", Robert Burke Richardson's "Eye, Urreal" (Fantasy) and a review of Justin Gustainis' new novel BLACK MAGIC WOMAN with an interview with the author. Illustrations by M. D. Jackson, Samuel de Graff and G. W. Thomas. Cover by M. D. Jackson.</div><br /><div><a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/2751161">Order from Lulu</a></div><div> </div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-46034852917490133882008-04-27T17:01:00.000-06:002008-04-27T17:02:55.975-06:00The project that wouldn't die...<p>The July 2008 <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8venVkYWNvbWljcy5jb20vbm9kZS81MDg=" target="_self">Zuda contest</a> is going to feature ten strips from previous months that didn't win their respective contests. The ten strips will be selected based on recommendations from readers, so send your list of up to <a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8venVkYWNvbWljcy5jb20vY29tcGV0aXRpb24vcmVzdWx0cw==" target="_self">ten previous competitiors</a> -- including, I hope, <em><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8venVkYWNvbWljcy5jb20vbm9kZS8yNDM=" target="_self">Urbis Faerie</a></em> -- to <a href="mailto:feedback@zudacomics.com">feedback@zudacomics.com</a>.</p><p>'Kay?</p><p><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/urbis_300.jpg" /></p>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-80676167315158119982008-04-15T23:47:00.000-06:002008-04-15T23:48:26.717-06:00Start spreading the news...If you happen to be going to this year's show and feel like looking me up, I will be:<br /><br />@ the DC Booth between 2 and 2:30 on Saturday<br /><br />looking for people selling hotdogs out of little carts (all weekend)<br /><br />@ the Zuda panel between 4 and 5 (room 1E02) on Saturday<br /><br />hiding from rats and cockroaches?<br /><br />@ the DC Booth between 1:30 and 2 on SundayRobert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-77096788838291773272008-04-07T15:42:00.002-06:002008-04-07T15:52:08.699-06:00Just A Canadian WriterBy <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/albertopessoa/">Alberto "Just A Latin Drawer" Pessoa</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=web00.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/web00.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=web01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/web01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=web02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/web02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=web03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/web03.jpg" border="0" /></a>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-40745753280898966372008-04-04T16:20:00.001-06:002008-04-04T16:21:47.667-06:00Hearts in the MountainThis one is like Shyamalan's The Village, except instead of the twist being that nothing is there... something is there. Just seemed less boring somehow.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Art by Andrea Meneghin.</div><div> </div><a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Hearts20.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/Hearts20.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-84029057857331258562008-04-03T17:20:00.002-06:002008-12-08T15:16:54.379-07:00Calamity<div>Calamity strikes, courtesy of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mcartwork">Mike Roberts</a>.</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwYr55avjUMt1P1ohXvPNB2LHitACuq3nmmu6Zo-TtIhxGa5W_z_tFx4uDJM3OddnVZJme4M4ZWotmk1Za73hKJpojI38Xzysnsh1tkJpaN_5wVdaPyBASOYtbWxPkHQDBpX9_w/s1600-h/calamity+5a+jpeg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185164046061199874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwYr55avjUMt1P1ohXvPNB2LHitACuq3nmmu6Zo-TtIhxGa5W_z_tFx4uDJM3OddnVZJme4M4ZWotmk1Za73hKJpojI38Xzysnsh1tkJpaN_5wVdaPyBASOYtbWxPkHQDBpX9_w/s320/calamity+5a+jpeg.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-29546454080216339422008-04-02T18:01:00.004-06:002008-12-08T15:16:54.523-07:00Cities of the TroglodytesPeek week, I guess: here's one I'm working on with <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/roemesquita/" target="_blank">Roe Mesquita</a> of <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/robert/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=18624" target="_blank">Super Pet Mojo</a> fame.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ0jDLvlENXgnj9KRYgYGX3xPtCTd5_tJgmSkA1MErpeA9VgZHKiUNHNbGzOuDWc3Dk_nkHvTM5R18GOGSC3pnK9U-khtblARjEjjX0GLJ8moCWbTkJDUtAz7Xk3ZeoSNXOcFAA/s1600-h/web1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184802508599124466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ0jDLvlENXgnj9KRYgYGX3xPtCTd5_tJgmSkA1MErpeA9VgZHKiUNHNbGzOuDWc3Dk_nkHvTM5R18GOGSC3pnK9U-khtblARjEjjX0GLJ8moCWbTkJDUtAz7Xk3ZeoSNXOcFAA/s320/web1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you go too far down in the elevator, I'm pretty sure this is what you'd find...Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-78099843929629835752008-04-01T19:17:00.003-06:002008-12-08T15:16:54.703-07:00Faerie FolkHere's a (fascinating? tell me it's fascinating!) glimpse at something I'm cooking up with <a href="http://www.comicspace.com/rdricci/">Rodrigo Ricci</a>. <div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WQvkiuSD0vPzHKOCR2I_lW7-v-FhES3SCvtCAeVfV8g5Rg2H1V4QhWneo4NIYXp5Sq7DQY57W1h_pwvpgy-PyipHCcHGFx8jsMmbxBEhoCbBchCk32b77llXVci77MOqI392Rg/s1600-h/web+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184452679217897954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WQvkiuSD0vPzHKOCR2I_lW7-v-FhES3SCvtCAeVfV8g5Rg2H1V4QhWneo4NIYXp5Sq7DQY57W1h_pwvpgy-PyipHCcHGFx8jsMmbxBEhoCbBchCk32b77llXVci77MOqI392Rg/s400/web+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>Mmmm, Edeny...</div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-40601725528934542782008-03-29T15:26:00.005-06:002008-12-08T15:16:54.848-07:00March already...<div>Wow, been a while since I posted. After getting 2008 off to a great start with <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a> appearing on DC's online imprint <a href="http://zudacomics.com/">Zuda</a>, and <a href="http://superpetmojo.sugaryserials.com/2008/02/10/2008-02-10_superpetmojo-5m/">Super Pet Mojo</a> launching at SugarySerials.com in February, I've spent most every free moment creating new comic properties with a variety of talented artists. Here's me with my cheque from DC Comics:</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjlruzURxxbcAYzM2J5mM9nQyS559fqqPvO6qMK2VCf_YIXtQn13y8k1-DmMCMSimMimOiyUJf4eOjIGvyPSp3uLLIy76pxkd6zuhuMyk8gNrIax5lMwHwuDNH4cJuY_-2_KGHQ/s1600-h/DC+cheque.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183283997141819858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjlruzURxxbcAYzM2J5mM9nQyS559fqqPvO6qMK2VCf_YIXtQn13y8k1-DmMCMSimMimOiyUJf4eOjIGvyPSp3uLLIy76pxkd6zuhuMyk8gNrIax5lMwHwuDNH4cJuY_-2_KGHQ/s200/DC+cheque.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I'll be heading down to the <a href="http://www.nycomiccon.com/App/homepage.cfm?moduleid=2577&appname=100453">New York Comic Con</a> in April; I'll be at the Zuda panel on Saturday, taking in the Con, taking in new York, and trying not to die.</div><div> </div><div>More about the new stories soon...</div><div> </div>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-2445535739073648952008-01-30T21:55:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:16:55.142-07:00Urbis Faerie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yN7uCppoqZtMvO5lD-MnMAvPPC2vLiXaP3jJub57PUxQi28GO6p51RLx-hXM004w1M31B05VtuDxJyow3031X753nsnvWBxwNLhOtnw3pcQnrqAeqbjyq4n8Kkb_sLzlwfqiwA/s1600-h/urbis_300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152966112072345730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yN7uCppoqZtMvO5lD-MnMAvPPC2vLiXaP3jJub57PUxQi28GO6p51RLx-hXM004w1M31B05VtuDxJyow3031X753nsnvWBxwNLhOtnw3pcQnrqAeqbjyq4n8Kkb_sLzlwfqiwA/s320/urbis_300.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a>, is up at Zuda.com: <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">view</a> it, <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">vote</a> for it, <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">love</a> it! Zuda is a monthly competition, and the comic with the most votes wins a contract with <em>DC Comics</em> for a full year's worth of stories. <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Check it out</a> and, if you like what you see, <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">vote for it</a>.<br /><br /><em>Some people shine with a special light (while others seem naturally inclined to scowl and scurry from that light). In the world of Urbis Faerie, all human beings are the direct descendants of various fantasy races, so that beautiful girl with the long blonde hair and glittering eyes may actually be an elf… or a fairy. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Urbis Faerie is a town founded as a haven for those in whom the old bloodlines run strong; a fresh start away from the old feuds and the tyranny of the Masters. Lauren hasn’t been in town long, but she’s fallen in love with her life here. When she receives a summons from her parents via their terrifying henchman, Mr. Hound, Lauren has to decide whether to leave Urbis Faerie and those she just might love, or risk the destruction of the town itself at the hands of her parents. But people are changing –- becoming more like their fantastic ancestors –- and unravelling the riddle of just who is descended from what will allow Lauren to stop the town from destroying itself… but only if she sticks around long enough to figure it all out!<br /></em><a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n218/elf_help2099/?action=view&current=FrontCover.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUkvKne8NIsUyrTpIMdTEwAGDNV8p1X3VcWjjvGNimhNQmSlD147oEYJbIjcvzuY2hFEpZsHc3FmMj8lSPDr_sCU2jBjiryPNKUZZXfAnfWMosTVbz3R9dPGcGJkw2dMrVPRsyQ/s1600-h/3-tease.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153261915059955858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUkvKne8NIsUyrTpIMdTEwAGDNV8p1X3VcWjjvGNimhNQmSlD147oEYJbIjcvzuY2hFEpZsHc3FmMj8lSPDr_sCU2jBjiryPNKUZZXfAnfWMosTVbz3R9dPGcGJkw2dMrVPRsyQ/s400/3-tease.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is from Robert Burke Richardson, Martin Morazzo, Carolina Cesare, and Robt L. Snyder, the team behind <a href="http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1908">Elf-Help</a> (now free at <a href="http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1908">Wowio.com</a>!)<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">Tags: comics, webcomics, DC, Zuda, Zuda.com, Nietzsche, romance</span>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-81238439236569420852008-01-20T16:51:00.000-07:002008-01-20T16:55:06.998-07:00Urbis Faerie: the interviewYep. Over at <span><a href="http://knaveofkrypton.blogspot.com/2008/01/knave-interviews-urbis-faeries-robert.html">knave of krypton</a></span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zudacomics.com/node/243"><img alt="Urbis Faerie" src="http://www.zudacomics.com/sites/all/media/promo_banners/2/4/243_300x250.jpg" border="0" /></a>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-17137011275054000212008-01-15T03:16:00.001-07:002008-12-08T15:16:55.247-07:00Urbis Faerie Character Profiles: Lucas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3yXKWhh36AHbVzReKa_7Nkz-ryRsVA29YkAjHhxNwtQrRx9LMaoBEq8ZNjIRy-7_sntl37hK-M3AoBzoRxJDbpoFYELZN4JoL2tPLJ7gQLZhL7RWY1Nl4QgRopO4Y6FAb8njqg/s1600-h/Lucas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155645338441394482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3yXKWhh36AHbVzReKa_7Nkz-ryRsVA29YkAjHhxNwtQrRx9LMaoBEq8ZNjIRy-7_sntl37hK-M3AoBzoRxJDbpoFYELZN4JoL2tPLJ7gQLZhL7RWY1Nl4QgRopO4Y6FAb8njqg/s400/Lucas.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(Vote for</span> <a href="http://www.zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie<span style="font-family:times new roman;"> at Zuda.com</span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">!)</span></div><br /><p> </p><p>Lucas: Hair Where There Wasn't Hair Before!</p>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17097434.post-44607482051881330652008-01-11T23:45:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:16:55.575-07:00A Woman Called Lauren<span style="font-family:times new roman;">(Vote for <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243"><em>Urbis Faerie</em> at Zuda</a>!</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;">)</span><br /><br />Towards the end of 2004 I started writing a short story I'd had no prior intention of writing. I was a strict 1000-words-a-day guy in those days, and wrote exclusively in a safe, slightly distant third person past tense voice -- always after at least a couple of days of careful planning. And then one day, when I'd already completed my daily 1000 word quota, I suddenly typed these words: <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The ad sounded perfect:<br /><br /><em>Walk to the train station. Outdoor swimming-pool on site.<br />Furnished/issues.</em><br /><br />Lauren called on her lunch break and signed the<br />lease by fax when she was able to talk the landlord down to $300 a month.<br />The furnishing, she discovered later, was tasteful, and even a bit on the<br />expensive side: pine floors, mahogany table, and a red/blue/orange<br />loveseat that actually looked cool despite being plaid. The issues were a<br />tiny but perfectly proportioned couple who lived in the wall behind the bedroom,<br />but at $300 a month, and with the word issues included in the ad, Lauren had<br />expected something to be a little off about the whole thing...<br /><br /></span></blockquote></span>Nothing all that Earth-shattering, but it seemed very strange to me at the time. The story ended up about 2,500 words, and I considered it something I'd written only for myself, and didn't expect I'd be able to interest a publisher in it. To my further surprise it found a home in the first market I sent it to: <em>On Spec, the Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic</em>. (In issue #62; order it <a href="http://onspec.ca/order_back.php">here</a>. I'll post the story to this blog if there's any interest.)<br /><br />This signaled a shift in my prose writing that is till in effect more than three years later. It also introduced me to a character named Lauren whom I -- at least consciously -- did not create. She's some sort of dark horse of my subconscious mind.<br /></span><br /><em>The Coming Years of Good</em> is the story of a young woman finding herself, and becoming comfortable in her own skin. Later I would take that same character and drop her whole (but without the continuity of the short story) into a comic called <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a>, which is in this month's competition at Zuda.com (<a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">vote</a> for it! You <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">MUST</a>!!).<br /><br />From the outside looking in, these must seem the most mundane of personal revelations, but I've always been a bit dense when it comes to seeing myself in my own work. I only realized a few days ago that <em>The Coming Years of Good</em> was really the story of me finally getting comfortable with being a writer -- finding my true calling and recognizing it, if you'll allow me to get a little dramatic. <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a> picks up the character in the exact same state, emotionally -- finally having found herself by moving to this strange little town.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh4qU4Tq2vMNQ3lssGSRMTJAG9IohWcp6uNUGDZOl8gYTFK7f17SSNA0_RSNWlDuMq8UcOJgl0jn0XfaAeNZeSjqyc3FGO4GDrcrCIG7iDzb8bJoHVmGLVP9VBsXxcOqHoLRzug/s1600-h/b&w.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154478245503215890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh4qU4Tq2vMNQ3lssGSRMTJAG9IohWcp6uNUGDZOl8gYTFK7f17SSNA0_RSNWlDuMq8UcOJgl0jn0XfaAeNZeSjqyc3FGO4GDrcrCIG7iDzb8bJoHVmGLVP9VBsXxcOqHoLRzug/s320/b&w.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first panel establishes just exactly the mood I was looking for. Like my <a href="http://elf-help.blogspot.com/2008/01/urbis-faerie-character-profiles-nikki.html">character Nikki</a>, I'm a fan of '90's TV shows, especially the ones that emphasized a sense of place. The <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a> sign is reminiscent of the "Welcome to Twin Peaks" sign from the show, and Lauren lives just outside of town and has to walk in every morning, like Doctor Fleischman in <em>Northern Exposure</em>. Lauren also shares an appellation with Lauren Graham of the <em>Gilmore Girls</em> (not a 90's show, but one with a strong sense of place nonetheless).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqQlUDBBn-OdeGA3o3UeKEsnQEa54zBIJMMd9yCriFxN0T31TvZF4zTBgWyq5_uZdsNkHSWll6zDjPCOiy_lMZkfZrZ_O8ZCqTMsuHMUPa7VkIAc88j3cAxNilOEGccWrFKboHA/s1600-h/panel1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154478683589880098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqQlUDBBn-OdeGA3o3UeKEsnQEa54zBIJMMd9yCriFxN0T31TvZF4zTBgWyq5_uZdsNkHSWll6zDjPCOiy_lMZkfZrZ_O8ZCqTMsuHMUPa7VkIAc88j3cAxNilOEGccWrFKboHA/s320/panel1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Colourist Robt Snyder did something I really liked with the rays of sun, which to me suggests a connection between the Earth and the Heavens, which resonates with the fact that humans in the world of <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a> are descended from mythological creatures like elves and leprechauns and ancient cat-warriors -- imperfect instances of eternal ideals.<br /><br />At the heart of <em>Urbis Faerie</em> is the idea of finding your place -- your bliss, as Joseph Campbell might say -- and the threat of having it taken away from you. The threat is only hinted at in the 8 pages on display at Zuda (Lauren will need to unravel some Nietzchean philosophy in order to have any chance at preserving her happiness).<br /><br />To me -- and this is a completely personal definition, not suggested as any sort of academic standard -- <em>Urbis Faerie</em> is female fiction. I've always been dismissive of notions of shojo vs. shonen stories -- the idea that stories could be primarily for one sex or another strikes me as silly (then again, I've never been able to read more than a sentence of a Harlequin romance).<br /><br />Female fiction, when I write it, comes from somewhere I don't quite no where. Maybe it's really just a conscious/unconscious distinction (I'm reading <em>From Hell</em> right now), but those inscrutable characters never seem to be male in my fiction. My male characters are all aspects of myself, placed in situations that (hopefully) bring them to life. A lot of my female characters work this way, too (single-mother superhero <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=113490651&blogID=186793305&MyToken=589b4add-812c-4af0-bc7d-2f498cbfd5fc">the Matriarch</a>, for instance), but others just appear unplanned, with lists of strange demands (like Lauren, or Gerd in <a href="http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1908">Elf-Help</a>).<br /><br />Female-oriented fiction supposedly stresses character over plot, and relationships over action. In its Zuda form, I suppose <a href="http://zudacomics.com/node/243">Urbis Faerie</a> could be said to fit that bill. (As a corollary -- it's been suggested that only plot-centric Zuda entries have a shot at winning the top slot -- does that make Zuda (or rather the voting aspect of it) male-biased?)<br /><br />In actual practice, female readers appreciate action as much as male readers, and male readers appreciate well-drawn characters and interesting relationships, too. If there truly is a difference between "male" and "female" fiction, then that difference would be dangerous to ignore, but it seems to me that transcending these generally outdated would simply serve to make stories <em>better</em>.<br /></span>Robert Burke Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580834182776383137noreply@blogger.com2