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Collected Archives
Real basic for the moment, so just click on the title of the column you might have missed, or want to read again.
I Make Believe
Hello and Welcome!
Why Mini Comics?
Where to Start?
Thumbnail Scripting
Finding An Artist
Scheduling
I'll Give You What For!
KC Cons Report
� 2001 by Jason Arnett. All Right Reserved unless otherwise noted.
May 14, 2004: Now Pitching for the Home Team...
Art by Jim Mehsling...
April 14, 2004: When the lights go out...
Thirty years prepared him to survive the crash on his homeworld.
But thirty years alone in space didn't prepare him for the wild things in the forest between him and his family...
Art by the very talented Jim Mehsling, who I'm also writing a project for. We hope to be pitching these two properties this summer. More as it develops.
Ciao!
Jason
February 20, 2004: Hope this is what you wanted... 'Cos this is what you're gettin'...
No new pictures today, but some news: Noissim, which has been homeless since Six Shooter Comix unplugged, is going to land in a benefit anthology for ACTOR by a yet-unnamed publisher. No schedule yet, but those of you who check in regularly will be among the first to know...
Also! The Tales of the Terminal Diner TPB is finally going to the printer next week. That means it'll be available some time in the next six weeks. If you don't remember, I plotted eight pages that comprise the climax of the book, and the art is digitally 3D rendered, and it looks beautiful. Scroll down for the preview from back in October...
And! Svetlana and I are submitting a pitch for a story called Haunt that we've been shopping for over a year to Terminal Diner publishers. I'll let you know how that turns out, when it gets accepted.
Still working on Occupation... Started work on the next Jimmy Cavanaugh story... Thinking hard about getting a scanner... Hoping for a laptop... Looking forward to the Star Wars box set that comes out nine days before my birthday...
That's all for today. More later, less soon.
Jason
January 12, 2004: Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe I'm right, Maybe I'm some kind of lunatic
Two pages by artist Joseph Reynolds from the script for an Original Graphic Novel called Occupation written by me...
Page One
Page Four
Still waiting on other news to report, but wanted to reward those that check in semi-regularly with something new. Hope you had a Happy New Year, and I hope I'll have SOMEthing more soon.
Ciao!
Jason
December 15, 2003: Nick
I�d been driving for a while when it finally started to snow.
Bare trees had been lining both sides of the highway the entire length of the trip and I could easily see the double meanings of them: The end of a long year and the promise of the new, their branches reaching, finger-like, towards Heaven.
Yeah, I believe in Heaven. A guy like me.
You know my type: the guy who looks like he doesn�t belong when he�s shopping for groceries. The guy you�d sit far away from in the trendy caf� when you�re surprised by my presence. You think that as dangerous as I look, the person I�m waiting for must be more so.
You know. Rough-and-tumble.
Truth is, I�m no different than you. Even if you don�t believe it.
Like you, my family is important to me this time of year. And that�s where I was going.
Home.
So I turned on to the main street of my home town, all lit up with the multi-colored lights that highlight the edges of the businesses on either side. The trees pushing skyward from their frozen concrete planters cast their shadows to the center of the now-snow-covered downtown avenue like a giant dreamcatcher. The holiday display rolled up my windshield at twenty miles per hour as I leaned over the steering wheel to watch. I even turned off my headlights to get the full effect and directed the car to the center of the deserted street.
The cop I hadn�t seen behind me turned on his lights. The ones that mean �stop�. I signaled my right turn into a parking stall because I didn�t need any extra shots on my already assured ticket. I put my hands in plain view on top of the steering wheel and the cop blocked me in.
�Hey, you,� the cop said as I rolled down my window. The frigid air stung my eyes and made them water. �It isn�t safe to drive without your lights at night.�
I smiled as I recognized Laura Tamblyn�s voice. I looked up at her as she handed a latte to me through the open window. �Thanks, officer,� I told her. �I was just enjoying the lights and the quiet.�
She leaned down and kissed me. We�d dated in high school and still hung out whenever I was in town, which wasn�t as often as it used to be. Despite the fact that I knew I loved her and was pretty sure she loved me, our lives had just taken different paths. Yeah. Just.
�In town long?�
�Couple days, at least. Can I call you?�
Laura touched my cheek with her leather-gloved hand. �I�ll be disappointed if you don�t, Kevin.� She kissed me again. �Enjoy the coffee and tell Annie I said �hi�. Merry Christmas.�
�You, too.�
I made the turn that would take me to my sister�s. Laura was nice enough to not mention I was later than usual, and neither would Annie, but she still wouldn�t want me to wake the kids. I�d have to be quiet.
I tapped on the little glass window centered towards the top of the front door. Annie had had the house painted this year. Something I�d promised to help with the last two years and had never been able to. Work had kept on getting better for me.
My older sister had been sleeping in the living room. After hugging me tight, she broke the long silence. �Glad you�re home,� she said into my shoulder.
�Sorry I�m late,� I said back to her. �Yesterday was a really long day.� Finally, we went to the kitchen and I microwaved the coffee Laura�d given me while Annie poured the last cup from a pot still sitting on the brewer. �How�re the kids?�
�Excited,� she said through the steam. �Anxious for Santa AND Uncle Kevin.�
Annie�s oldest, Philip, was nearly eleven, and Devin was eight. I didn�t know how long kids believed in Santa, but I thought Devin might be suspicious and Phil ready to spoil it for her. �Imagine that,� I said. �I have stuff in the car from both those guys.�
Annie looked suspiciously at me. �You didn�t.�
�It�s been a good year,� I said. She glared at me. �What? I can�t do for my niece and nephew?�
�You shouldn�t have, is all. I don�t --- Listen, Philip�s curious about what you do and I don�t want him doing what you do. If he�� She frowned a little now. �He�s my boy. I can�t stand the thought of him getting hurt. Or��
I decided to avoid the old argument by putting my latte down and smiling at her. �Don�t worry. I won�t encourage him. I�ll go get the stuff from the car and be right back, okay?� I kissed her on the cheek and she nodded at me as she turned away.
Snow was falling harder outside. The snow on the hood had melted from the heat of the engine, but the rest of the car was quickly being covered. The tire tracks the car had made were filling in, too. I looked up at the sky, but it was that kind of slate gray that �s so full of big, fat snowflakes that I couldn�t see any stars. I shivered and pulled my collar up.
I put the key in the trunk and paused. �Sleigh bells?� I said out loud. �Sleigh bells?�
I turned to look behind me. �No,� I said to myself. �It can�t be��
But it was. Or it looked like it. Eight reindeer pulling a sleigh with --- no. �It�s just a guy who�s dressed like Santa,� I told myself. Had to be. I stopped believing when I was nine. This had to be someone who did this for the kids who stayed up too late. Probably a father on the block somewhere.
The sleigh stopped right next to me. Standing so close, there would have been NO doubt if I was Devin. None.
�Hello, Kevin,� �Santa� said. �Merry Christmas.�
�Hi,� I said, looking sideways at him. �Santa.�
The guy hopped out of the sleigh. He was absolutely the part: heavy; full white beard (that was real); the suit; about five-foot-one. Very convincing.
�You�re old enough to call me Nick, Kevin.� He smiled. �It�s okay.� Then he pulled a little pipe from a pocket in his coat and lit it. It was like some Norman Rockwell Santa was standing right in front of me. �You know, the missus would really like me to quit, but�� he shrugged. �Old habits are hard to break.�
�Yeah, I know.� I slumped back against the trunk of my car. �You really look like Santa Claus there, Nick. Really great.�
�Thanks,� the old man grinned. �I�ve had lots of practice.�
�Listen,� he continued. �Don�t let Annie get you down about your work, Kevin. What you do, it�s important. It makes people happy. What you do here, coming home for this time, it�s just as important. Philip and Devin need you around. You�re doing good. These kids will turn out just fine because of you. Trust me.�
Him name-dropping my sister and her kids should have been creepy, but it wasn�t. It --- it felt reassuring. Nick put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me down to whisper in my ear. �And Laura? She�ll go with you if you ask her to.�
Nick turned and climbed back into his sleigh and clicked at the reindeer. �Good stuntmen work a lot in Hollywood, Kev. That kind of entertainment keeps peoples minds off of things that worry them. Annie�ll get over her fear soon enough. Now, I have to go.
�There are lots of people who need me. Merry Christmas!� I was about to reply when he waved and shouted past me. �And a Merry Christmas to you, too, Annie!�
I turned and saw her on the front porch, self-consciously waving back. She looked at me and mouthed the word �Who?� I shrugged and watched the sleigh turn the corner. I could almost swear I saw the front of the sleigh lift off the ground. But I won�t. It was all too much.
�Who WAS that?� Annie asked me as she held the door open for me. I was carrying a laundry basket full of presents for the kids into the house.
�Some guy dressed like Santa,� I said. �Told me to call him Nick. I think he must do this to keep the myth up for any kids up way too late.�
Inside by the tree decorated with the kids� school-made ornaments, I set the basket down and took my coat off. �Kevin,� Annie said behind me. �You didn�t bring in any gifts the first time you came in, did you?�
�Nope,� as I said bending down to begin distributing presents alongside the ones Annie already had under the tree.
�Then where did those others come from? I haven�t put anything out, yet.�
�What?� I looked up at her and she pointed to the four silver-wrapped boxes under the tree. One each for Philip, Devin, Annie and me. �From Nick,� the tags read.
Neither one of us said anything for a minute, until Annie put her hand on my shoulder. �Do you hear that?�
I listened.
�Yeah,� I said. �Sleigh bells.�
---December 2003
Wishing all of you and your families the happiest of holiday seasons. I'll see you in the new year with (cross your fingers) two big announcements.
Jason
December 1, 2003: Land of Sunshine
Well, I've spent far too much time on extraneous junk lately, and I'm inspired to write a whole bunch of stories that've been actually swimming around in my head for a while. So, I'm abandoning my usual message board hangouts (at least as semi-regular poster) for the rest of the year and into January. I'll still surf around and see what's going on, but don't expect regular updates here or anywhere else for the next six weeks or so.
However, there's one thing I"m going to share with you guys here on December 15. So, if you're interested, drop by after that, and I'll see you all in the shiny new year.
Best,
Jason
November 21, 2003: Ballet for a Rainy Day
Now available for you to purchase, I Make Believe Volume One is the perfect gift for someone who wants to learn how to make comix for themselves, rather than depend on pros and big-time publishers. It's all there: what materials and tools you can use to start with, what obstacles you're likely to encounter, bits on marketing your work, what happens when you're done, and why you should do more. It's also got useful interviews and advice from people who are involved in making comix everyday of their lives. Just like YOU should be. Eighty mini-comic-sized pages full of big ideas for only $5 plus $1.25 in Shipping and Handling. Available signed or not at no extra charge. Email me for payment info by clicking here and I'll tell you how to get your very own copy!Thanks beyond words to Rob Schamberger for the great scan of the cover!
I've got a bunch of stuff to be working on, like the new I Make Believe column (which is living nicely at its new home, thank you!) some script and submission stuff and this year's Holiday Card, which will be so different from previous years work that you'll ALL be surprised...
So, gotta go! More later!
Ciao!
Jason
November 17, 2003: Not Now John
Hi! If you're visiting as a result of the Kansas City Comicon appearance I made this past weekend, thanks for dropping by. I had a great time and I'll write up a con report when I have time later this week....
If you're here because you want to order a copy of I Make Believe Volume One please email me and let me know you're interested. When I update later this week or early next, I'll have some excerpts and maybe a scan of the cover to show. In the meantime, I've been told that it's "full of good information" by Ande Parks and that "it's a fun read" by Larry Young. The book will cost you $6.25 via PayPal or personal check. If you want me to sign it, let me know. It'll ship to you as soon as I get the money.
Philip Looney! I need your snail mail address!
Work is proceeding apace on The Crystal Lady. It should be ready to ship on December 31.
That's all for now. More later, less soon.
Ciao!
Jason
October 29, 2003: Hi Roller, Lo Ball Jack
Click here and read down a bit to see my name in lights, courtesy of Steven Grant.
And the announcement I've been waiting to make will happen some time soon, but you'll just have to wait. We're close.
Did you watch 24 last night? Oh, man, the best show on TV is BACK!
Ciao!
Jason
October 27, 2003: Time Loves a Hero
Well, Six Shooter Comix has shut its doors, and I'm still sad about it. Rob and Thom have been really good friends to me, and I hope that we'll find a way to work together again somehow in the future as a team. In the meantime, Rob and I are working on a book project together, and Rob has started forming a new website called Comix Creator where there will be beaucoups resources for the burgeoning comix creator.
Also, I Make Believe, The Guide to Making Mini Comix Volume One is ready to ship to your house on November the 5th. For only $5 plus $1 shipping and handling, you can get your hands on the first eight chapters of the essential information that will help you with your first mini comic. You'll read about what materials you need, how to organize your time, how to get your head where it needs to be, advertising for collaborators, marketing, hwat happens when you finish the first comic and why you should make more. You'll also find advice from people involved in making comix every day of their lives. Just like YOU should be. It includes new and little-seen illustrations by me and by Svetlana Chmakova.
You can get your very own copy for $6 total with either PayPal to [email protected] or sending a check or money order to I Make Believe c/o Jason Arnett PO Box 44-2369 Lawrence, KS. 66044 and watch for Volume Two sometime in January.
In other news, you'll have a new mini comic from me in your hands in December entitled The Crystal Lady that continues the story told in The Stone Man about five years later. All drawn in a new style by me. It'll be three bucks.
Hoping to have a home for the continuing I Make Believe column that I can talk about soon... The IMB Archives will live at Comix Creator... Noissim could have a new home that will be mass distributed and PRINTED... Risers will help fill in some story points from the Jackleg Comics run... And basketball season starts up pretty quickly, too. The only kind that counts, college... Don't forget to buy your copy of Ande Parks' and Eduardo Barreto's Union Station on November 5th, too. It's a beautfiul book and it's brilliant on top of it.
That's all for now. Isn't that enough?
Ciao!
Jason
October 4, 2003,: My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
Hey, all. Had a birthday last Tuesday, thanks one and all for the warm wishes. It was a good day made better by being able to sleep when I got tired. I know, I sound old, don�t I?
Got some bad news that Rob and Thom over at Six Shooter Comix have broken up the group. What this bodes for the future of the I Make Believe column, I don�t know, but stay tuned to find out. In the meantime, I�ll keep writing columns and if the site discontinues (I hope it doesn�t, but you never know) and doesn�t relaunch, I�ll let you know here.
Finished a rather large personal project for my grandfather this week. I�ve been editing his memoirs (as I announced here a while back) and I�m glad to�ve done the work. I found it enormously entertaining as I read through it. It�ll publish sometime in November, and I�ll let you all know when that happens, too.
I�m working on two OGNs at the same time, here, and it�s quite a balancing act with my own mini comic coming up, too. But I�m having a blast working like this, and I hope it pays off. I feel good about it, since both artists are pretty terrific, and I think you�ll see both in some form or fashion some time in the spring of 2004. Even if it�s only the pitches.
Haunt is still waiting for replies. Stay tuned on that score.
I�m getting itchy to write. Gotta go. More later, less soon.
Ciao!
Jason
September 2, 2003: Terminal Dining UPDATED!
What's this from?
Or this?
Maybe it's a new story for Ron Fontes' Terminal Diner trade paperback that will be available in October. Maybe it's a story I plotted for him in exchange for some work for me. If you're really curious, tune back in for updates.
More as it develops...