House Of Secrets: Forums

Revelations from the Self-Publishing Underground.

Having been in the comics retail biz now for over 17 years and a reader all my life, like many into comics I have palette for all types of books. No matter the genre, the audience, I've always found something redeemable in every effort, because creating a comic book is not easy. It's taken me a better part of thirty years to finally take the leap from fanboy to comic writer and publisher.

Always having been a fan of independent comics (hey it's just my nature) I've admired the many who have gone off the beaten track to do it “their way” to create those small little indy gems that drive the imagination and spur the creative spark in many mainstream comics. As I have learned creating and publishing Five Color Comics #1 (debuting at Wondercon this month), self-publishing is definitely a hard road, requiring a lot more than just talent and skill. If I were to have attempted this ten years ago, I doubt it would look as good and polished as it does today.

A lot of hard work and hard earned cash went into this book, which I plan to be the first of many in my little comics publishing empire [insert canned laughtrak here], but there's so much more to it. Patience, collaboration, cheerleading, coach, businessman, partner - you wear a lot of hats, many of which I might not have had access to in my younger years. My writing partner and collaborator in crime, Erik Warfield deserves a lot of credit as do the many talented artists that grace the pages of FCC #1, but our jobs not done. Not by a long shot.

Taking it To the Streets- So now, as I wait patiently for my the first shipment of 5CC to arrive, another stage in our little adventure awaits us. Promotion and marketing! Now people who know me, know I know how to sell. I'm great at self promotion, great at promoting my shop and rallying the troops. The real tests I face in the immediate future are “can I sell this book?” Erik and I have a lot of personal pride invested in this “little book that could” and everyone, I MEAN EVERYONE, likes to be noticed and praised. I hope that our efforts at Wondercon we'll have us come home basking in our glorious victory (sales) from the show. But I'm a businessman and a realist. It's gonna take hustle and effort to sell even modest numbers, but like any labor of love...it's all worth it.

I am now a professional comic writer and publisher.

Spread the news forth and across the land to anyone who will listen and even those that won't. Oh and be sure to visit the Five Color Comics link above. Click on the navigation link and e-mail us your order for a dozen copies of FCC #1. I'll be sure to give you a price break. ;}

I'll be back with more from the trenches after Wondercon. Wish us luck.

Green Lantern Corps. Does This Color Ring Make Me Look Fat?

Green Lantern #25 wrapped up what was as grand as any space war epic as any we've seen in recent memory. The final chapter in the “Sinestro Wars” Saga really brought the cosmic aspect of the Green Lantern Corps front and center with Hal, Kyle, John and Guy playing significant roles but as members of the Corp rather than the Corp as a backdrop to their stories.

You really got the feel that they were grunts just like everybody else in this cosmic army, with new players revealed who may even eclipse them in importance and prestige. And if there was ever a question as to the sheer power of the corp as a whole...well, just think..., it took 12 issues of Crisis on Infinite Earths to destroy the Anti-Monitor. The GL Corp did it in half an issue. Sure he wasn't at his previous power levels, but still...

This final book also revealed a fat new plot thread that will be woven until 2009 which already has turned the lantern upside down. If you want find out more, be sure to get this must have book.