Superheroes and Sorcerers

So, it’s Saturday, and I’m doing the rounds at my job, working at the local library. I’m shelving at our graphic novels section when something catches my eye. It’s a very bland-looking graphic novel called “Johnny Hiro” by Fred Chao. I said to myself, “Hey, I need something new to read”, and I decided to take a look at it.

It’s not actually a superhero story, but rather the chronicles of a half-Japanese busboy named Johnny Hiro. He lives with his girlfriend Mayuki, a Japanese immigrant in New York who works as a copy editor. Their relationship is honest, sweet, and endearing.

Johnny’s life is filled with crazy mishaps, from a giant lizard named Gozadilla trashing his apartment to getting attacked by sushi chefs to computer programmer samurai at the opera, it’s a truly absurd and hilarious tale.

The writing by Chao is honest, real, and while Johnny’s problems are outlandish, he deals with life and moves on as well as any normal person. Sprinkled in with a moving set of characters is a beautiful rendition of New York, simple artwork that still is enjoyable, and more guest stars you can shake a stick at, from a pastiche of Power Rangers to Michael Bloomberg and David Bryne.

This is, put plainly, the best comic book I have read in the past year. It’s something I would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good, clean human tale.

So, I’ve ben tossing around ideas lately, and ended up with nothing even close to what I was hoping I’d finish by the end of February. But, hey, it’s life. what can you do about it?

Anyways, I was working on the most promising of ideas of late, a short story that I’m hoping will turn intos omething appraching finished relatively soon. Anyways, no spoilers, but while I was working on the piece last night, I was doing my usual. Listening to som classic rock, air guitaring in betwen paragraphs, and actually doing some writing when I wasn’t being a total dork.

And then, I swear to God, I start hearing noises. Not like a bump or a pop, which has happened before, and I’ve quickly found the solutions to the problems(The pop happens when we leave our grill plugged in, and the bump is usually either my brother or the cat). Instead, this was the exact same noise the monster in my story makes. I turned on every light in the house, grabbed the holiest thing I could find(for those of you who are wondering, the holiest thing on my desk at that moment was the Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer), and raced like a bat out of hell upstairs.

Imagining the monster you’re writing about appearing in your house? God damn, I need to get me some rock salt and consecrated iron. Or maybe I’ve just been watching too much Supernatural of late.

Hey, everyone!

It’s February 26, which means the month’s almost up. Jeez, it’s gone by fast, even if it is February. School’s been up for me for a few weeks now, which is still no excuse for my rather bland lack of posting. Some of you may be asking when my next piece comes out.

The simple answer? When it’s done. With school, home work, and real work, it’s crazy-hard to find time to write. However, I am pulling through, and I hope to have at least something up soon.

In real news, I am stuck on finding a filler putty for basing material for my miniatures, I’ve rolled up a new character for a D&D game I’m playing, whose bio I’ll be posting for the heck of it.

So, apart from my usual distractions in life, I believe I have a target for my anger at not being able to write as fast as I usually can. I am sick. Ah, Pepto Bismol, it’s been many a long year since I’ve held you in my arms.

In all seriousness, though, I’m working on getting back to full health as soon as I can, hopefully enough that I can get some gaming in tomorrow.

Hey, it’s Feburary 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. First of all, I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow.

Yours truly will be celebrating this holiday in a traditional, bloody manner. After all, this is a martyr’s holiday, is it not? I’ll be playing Flames of War with my friend Sean. My British rifles might actually take home the prize against his Panzerkompanie.

In other news, I’ve been working on the new American Arcane story. Expect to see a preview scene from the story sometime in the next few days.

And, lastly, in gaming news, I’ve been playing Bioshock. And darn, if this isn’t one of the better games I’ve played in a while. It’s beeen a long time since I’ve been this entranced in a game. I’ll write more on it once I’ve finished it.

So, what are you guys doing for the holiday? Got any good gaming in recently?

Okay, so I had an article all prepped today, but instead, I have some updates and news. Article will come later!

Firstly, I’m going to be going back to college this week. That most likely means that I’ll be bumping up my writing speed soon. I’ve been working on an idea, and I can only hope that it turns out as good as I hope it’s going to be.

Secondly, we may be seeing Jake in another form sometime. Not too much on that, but I’m getting some art today regarding the subject. I’m very excited about this

Third, I’m planning on starting to do movie/book/comic reviews up here on the website. After all, I want to share my loves and current crazes with the people I write for.

I hope you all have had an amazing January. I would have posted more, but honestly, there wasn’t all that much to yell about.

Hey, a new story? Where’d that come from?

Oh, right, I finished one. “Who Ya Gonna Call?” is the latest story. I cranked this one out for my Creative Writing class last semester, though I think it’s one of the stronger AA pieces I’ve done, despite its brevity.

Only two chapters? Yea, This one’s a bit short.

I left the morgue and got back into my car. I checked my messages, seeing a call from Theresa. Theresa was my lover of about eight months now. Personally, I think I’m a terrible boyfriend. I have bad hours, don’t make a lot, and my appearance is usually…less than family-friendly. For standing me, she should have been nominated for sainthood.

Well, that is, if she wasn’t a demonic sex-goddess. Theresa was a Red Angel, a succubus in the words of humanity. She was a woman and demon, bound into one body. I’ll say it. I play with fire, and God, do I love the burn. (continue reading…)

Hey, folks,

I’m checking in from my grandmother’s in the mountains. Getting some writing done up here, but I thought I would update while I’ve got internet access.

For the biggest fail(so far) of the new year’s, check out http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/most-anticipated-games-of-2010/most-anticipated-games-of-2010/1383109. Now, go to the one where they’re talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic, the new Star Wars MMO. What’s that there? Oh, right, the picture’s of a Klingon temple. Great work, Yahoo. Why did no one let a nerd fact-check that?

In other news, apparently even the President has seen Avatar before I have. Grumble grumble. But I have seen Sherlock Holmes, which was freaking fantastic. Robert Downey, Jr. was fantastic, continuing this trend he’s developed since his comeback, and Jude Law was playing the perfect straight man to Downey(yea, make the generic jokes about Holmesian homoeroticism). Also, Rachel Adams as the infamous, devious(and remarkably sexy) Irene Adler? Absolutely astounding! And the end. Oh, the end… Let it be known that I am extremely happy a sequel is in the works.

What else is new? Well, I’m working on some boring exercises to get my mind off my writer’s block, as well as writing up some potential ideas. I’ve got an idea for Jake Sinclair’s fifth story. The fourth, “Who Ya Gonna Call” needs to get out of my workbox and onto the site. Don’t worry, I promise it’ll happen soon.

But, for now, I hear my keyboard-and Word-calling for me to get back to work. Hope you’re all having a good New Year’s so far!

If you look down below this post, you’ll see a lot of clutter standing between this and my introduction. That is because there is a new American Arcane story out today! I can’t tell you how happy I am to get this new material up, but it’s up there in major squee-age.

In other news, I’m almost done with my Christmas shopping. My big payday was yesterday, so I’ll be hitting the mall today to finish up my shopping. After that, probably some time hitting Games Workshop. Dice-and-mice(or, well, rat-men, I’m playing the Skaven these days).