J-Bolt News [Archive] - Page 12 - Comic Book Resources Forums

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 01:59 PM

Patrick...
Thank you for your compliment on my art. I actually started the WLS Ashcan MANY years ago, while my drawing style was still somewhat green, not know quite what I wanted to do with it, and having more intentions on just doing it for personal amusement for myself. That's why most of the first part doesn't match the last parts, in detailed style. It took me a number of years to get it together (once I decided what I wanted to do with it), and you can actually use it to see how my drawing style evolved over all that time. As artists, we're always growing in our styles and each year end up changing even a little something more of what we did the year before, etc. My coloring style I created and the only difference, in the WLS Ashcan, is that I chose to mix 2 styles of my more gradient/realistic style and did other pages in that solid coloring style that I never really liked, since real life colors aren't solid. For all this, and seeing the earlier artwork pages, I don't really fault those who didn't like the art, as I'm sure they didn't care to see the last pages when my style changed to be far more detailed. I just wanted to explain that along with saying that I, myself, don't have bad feelings for those who threw pitchforks at what they first saw.
I believe in MacQuarrie's offer also, as well as OzBat first saying it to me. That's why I went through all of the long post last night, but screwed up at it without saving what I wrote, not remembering that this board gives only a certain amount of time to post a message. I've ALWAYS wanted friendship with everybody here, as quite a few people here will certainly remember, is that I offered a friendship truce quite a few times over and only to get it thrown in my face, or was used as that "kick me" sign against me. I'll keep going for the friendship, this time, until I see more "kick me" signs thrown onto me again. Now, if nobody wants this to happen, let's keep those signs away... huh? I love the analogy of the "kick me" sign you created, so I hope you don't mind me using it. I honestly want to be a friend with my peers and visa-versa. We all have quite a bit to offer each other after all, ya' know.
OzBat! most certainly started this off with the right spirit. I'll certainly give no arguement there.
I agree that those of us who love comics should do this book together and I have a couple of ideas to throw in, if nobody minds: 1) why not do it as one, big, continual story involving one of each of our characters (or 1 hero/1 villain from each of us)? The reason for this is because publishers look for artists who can put their own swing to other creators' work all the time, as they want to know that you're not limited to putting your best only into your own work. We would each give a character stats sheet to whoever is writing (I nominate Simone, of course), she writes the story, based on all the characters commonality (sp?), as is done with most crossovers, and we each get our alotment of pages to work on. If we each do the proposed 4 pages each, I suggest that we ink only 1 of our own pages as publishers also want to see how we ink other artists' pencils. As each penciled page is completed, we scan/e-mail it to whoever is selected as our editor (there's too many to choose from, for me to nominate, so I leave that up to you guys to put to a vote), and if it'll be in color, I suggest we each throw in our individual coloring style, as I do mine a certain way, as jpg's (like I said... it's my style, not the industry standard, but it works for me and I'm not at all comfortable doing it any other way, truth to tell), then, we can find a good inexpensive printer who has great prices. The printer I have does 25,000 copies at 25.5 cents each full color with 100lb glossy cover stock cover, but somebody here might get an even better price, having their own local connections. 2) My other suggestion would be that, since everybody has ideas of which convention to show it and scheduling problems, I'll throw in mine. Comicon just announced that since this year's convention was much bigger than they anticipated, with the spill-over being so much larger than they could comfortably house, why not use what they said that they are going to do next Summer the earliest, but the following Summer as the latest, being that they're going to put a large part of the convention in Las Vegas. That would be absolutely ideal for us to do this, since the infancy of it will make what we pay even cheaper and we can be really socializing at the party place of the World, in between our shifts at the booth. I'll pay my portion of the overhead for this, plus use my own little hype skills to get even more people to come see us. After all, I'm told that I'm a bit overzealous with the hype LOL (even though it does apparently work in some capacity or another) and it'll greatly help us, I believe. So these are my idea/suggestions, with my 2 cents added in. Whatever you guys end up with, in the end result, lemme' know the details and I'll schedule it in, as well as everybody being able to give the heads up to their employers, babysitters, etc. so that they can do it. I really do think the Vegas one would be the best for all involved, with the reasons I mentioned and far more.
"It can be backbreaking, soul crushing and financially draining." I didn't suffer most of those items except for the "backbreaking" aspect as I worked tirelessly on finishing the Ashcan, once I figured out what I wanted to do with it, on the market. But, instead of us all doing a variety-show Ashcan, I think it would be best for us all to do just a whole comic book in the spirit of all the great multi-artist single stories.
Believe me... I have worked long and hard on my craft for MANY years and I do believe I found something that works well, as long as I can schedule all the things I'm doing at once, more relaxed. I've been stretched to the limits with all the things I'm working on at the same time now, and have been working to improve my scheduling so that more material evidence is immediately seen from my work, including scheduling time in on getting the comics done (as I am indeed doing). Speaking of which, another thing that gets artists solidly known amongst comic book fans and, at the same time, get paid well for doing so, is to sell custom commissioned art on eBay. I know artists who do it there, one under a pen name, and they make an average extra $1,500 a month doing so, while getting their style known. Either way, you guys might want to look into that, as it'll bring a pretty penny into your pocket while getting your rep out there amongst people who will pay through the nose to get their work done. Then, when you have hit big, the owners of those originals will take extra pride in possessing it.
No, the Ashcan wasn't what helped me, but it certainly didn't hurt. It was just a rung on the ladder. I know most of you won't believe it, but the hype helped me more than anything, mostly after the first LBC site hit the information super highway.
Of course I'll join everybody on this and I'll be more than happy to advise anyone of submission info they don't know as my knowledge helped quite a few artists who took my college classes. I'd even be more than happy to start a string on here, using all the stuff that I taught in the classes for free, if anybody is open to the idea, in order to see that I do know what I'm talking about and that it does indeed help. You lemme' know. At the very least it'll be fun, I'd think.
In short, I'll be happy to join in and offer anything that you might feel as being valuable from me, to add to your own knowledge/skill.
J-Bolt:cool:

J-Bolt...

Just wanted to say that in spite of any frustration I've had in following this extended saga, I like your art and I wish you the best.

I believe in Jim's offer of friendship. There's no "Kick Me" sign waiting to be taped to your back ala JBolted. This is real, just as I believe Gail's offer to donate a script years ago was real. There was/is some skepticism regarding whether or not you would take an offer of friendship, I think.

I know that after years of negativity on both sides it may be hard but OzBat! has the right spirit.

Let's all come together and do something great. No hype. No pretense. Just people who love comics DOING comics.

I know how hard it can be producing a comic. I sweated bullets last year just to put out an ashcan roughly the length of the LBC ashcan. It can be backbreaking, soul crushing and financially draining.

But I also have slowly come to realize that if it is that hard, something's going wrong. There are better ways to do things than you or I have tried. The proof of that is in the work of guys like Robert Kirkman and Brian Bendis, comic pros who worked their way up.

This YABS ashcan is a good thing and I think it would be a good thing to just call a ceasefire and COMBINE our abillities, all of them, to build something.

In my heart, my desire to go pro was not fulfilled by a simple ashcan and I don't think yours was either. I think the idea to push a comic idea into development as a movie was an attempt to get around the limitations that this industry can impose and I applaud that kind of spirit if nothing else.

I just want one real shot. One real story. I think if I can get that, I can find people to work with and find my footing in this industry.

Consider joining me on that.

Crowley

08-03-2006, 02:24 PM

when's the movie coming out?

Gail Simone

08-03-2006, 02:26 PM

I'm sure everyone knows this already, but I'm going to ask everyone to stay polite, please, and consider a bit of a fresh start. If J-Bolt has things to say, he's more than welcome, and as four hundred billion posts attest, the old issues have already been thoroughly discussed.

So please, let's avoid a confrontational stance. Thanks.

Gail

SUPERECWFAN1

08-03-2006, 03:06 PM

Ya know J-Bolt I've said this before but the Draco could be an intriquing concept. I've said this before on here...it really could work if done right.

My thinking and you can have these ideas for free and let someone like Gail or Ozbat write them.

1. Dump Fat Elvis: That look has to go. Why not keep him in human form and have his eyes turn red and that if he looks in a mirror he sees his demon form ?

2. Play up the shared Soul: The human in the Draco now has a Demon inside him. How about playing that aspect up. How does a man go from hearing his own voice now to being drawn into a battle he's not ready for and sharing his soul with a demon ?

3. It makes no sense: Why would Draco feel anger over being placed on Earth since he feels towards them ? I think changing that Draco really could care less for humanity and is sentenced to walk among them til he can get home works best. Plus we could say he tried to take Hell from his father.

By changing the origin of Draco you create conflicts. Draco doesn't wanna share his soul with a human. The human doesn't want to share his soul with a demon and wants to be rid of him and the whole thing is these 2 existing long enough as one to figure this all out.

Hopefully ya see that I'm not blasting you in this. I just see something that could be a lot better .

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 03:11 PM

There is only one Jim J-Bolt Fisher and it is me.
J-

Well, I've often pointed out that if William Shakespeare was a pseudonym (possibly shared by a collective of writers) then he would be no less real than if he were a single man. And, as a byproduct, it would mean that he never died and that new Shakespeare work could be produced under the name by contemporary writers.

Likewise, whether or not this J-Bolt is Jim Fisher doesn't matter to me. If he wants to produce stories, I'm all for it as long as this J-Bolt wears the mask.

The LAW may not see it as such and Jim Fisher can sue if he wants...

But WHOEVER this J-Bolt is, all I care is that he strives for the "ominous beauty" that the J-Bolt name stands for, along with faster rate of production and an ever-increasing rate of quality.

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 03:18 PM

Everybody...
Please save your questions for the big chat, so that EVERYBODY will have access to the answers at the same time, including those who don't partake in this forum.
And I've already answered the question about the movie release date: there is none yet, as it will soon be scheduled.
J-Bolt:cool:

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 03:27 PM

J-Bolt,

I'm sincere here. Let me explain myself a bit. I like to help people. It's kind of a hobby of mine. You can ask Scott Shaw! or Louis Bright-Raven or any number of other people here, I enjoy helping other people. With that in mind, understand that it drives me stark staring nuts to see somebody with potential completely blow it for foolish reasons. That's the case with you, in my honest opinion. You have artistic talent and a measure of creativity, but your need to promote yourself at the expense of your project is painful to watch.

There are a bunch or "rules for life" that I keep telling my kids. There's the Rule of Holes: "You can't dig your way out of a hole; as soon as you discover that you are in one, stop digging." There's the Rule of Knowledge: "You can't learn anything you think you already know." and a whole bunch more that the kids are sick of hearing. I think you should seriously contemplate these two rules in particular. There is much truth in them.

Now, as I said before, OMAR has eliminated the source of my last conflict with you, so that's bygones as far as I'm concerned. Let's turn our attention forward and put the past behind us.

First, let's define a term. Friends. Friends are people who have your back, who have your best interests at heart, and who can count on you to do the same. Agreed? Okay, part of that is that friends tell each other the truth, and call each other on the bullshit. Now, that doesn't mean friends get permission to attack each other. If your friends let you get away with BS that will come back to bite you when strangers catch on, they aren't your friends. Again, it's like I tell my kids, "would you rather have me tell you what you're doing wrong, knowing that I care about you, or would you rather find out you're wrong when some stranger punches you in the mouth for it?"

The point of that is, if you want to be friends, you have to accept criticism and disagreement as honest observation, not as "bashing." If you want to surround yourself with people who tell you that you shit soft-serve vanilla ice cream, you can do that, but those people aren't your friends. They are people trying to take advantage of you or set you up for failure.

If you can accept the fact that occasionally your friends are going to challenge you to back up your claims, or argue with you about things sometimes, and recognize that it's not an attack, we'll get along just fine.

Frankly, I think that Bombshell has some potential, but it needs to be done the right way, and that includes not hyping anything until it's actually ready for hyping, and then hyping it the right way. For example, if Busty McBlonde has signed a contract, have the hype about it come from her, not you. Meanwhile, you keep working on the important part, which is the actual art and writing of the thing.

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 04:59 PM

J-Bolt: Check it out...

http://www.monkeyspit.net/rantman/jbolt.php

Okay?

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 05:04 PM

Mac...
Friends is what I've aspired for, with all of you, since all the melee (sp?) started. With that being the case, my friends just call me J-.
Now, I can't agree with you more, that friends give each other constructive criticism, but the criticism I've gotten used to, from you guys, is that which contains words like "idiot" and the like. This is what has always kept me on the defensive.
One of the things I always did, when I taught classes, was that when a student brought in their assignment piece that really, badly, needed work, I'd first tell them what I liked about it. Then afterwards, I'd 'suggest' to them that they may want to change such and such about it. This made it where they had positive reinforcing of their work and they were more than happy to change what I found to be wrong. That's the whole difference, Man: if all somebody hears is negative remarks, their brain just turns off to anything else, and strikes out with teeth bared. BUT, if they hear what is felt as being good about their work first, and the negatives given secondary, they can't do enough to improve those weaknesses because they know they did something right and strive to make everything else right.
So, what I'm asking is whenever you find something wrong, why not say "hey, J-, I like where your story is going, but you might want to think about expanding on this character's speech more, or the vocabulary, etc., but keep doing that story lead-up." Then, just as it always worked for every, single student I taught, no matter what their age or skill was, it would be taken as constructive criticism.
I always taught my kids valuable lessons, as well, as I see that you care about your kids enough to do the same. With that, I've always raised my kids with the same methods that I taught my classes: positive influence, then positively phrased criticism, finished with one more positive push. And it always worked perfectly. This is all I ask. Don't tell me that I sound like an idiot amateur, if you find something you don't like.
As for promotion, lemme' give a few examples of why it works, as well as when it doesn't: every cast/crew member attached to the film is asked, as soon as they've signed their name, that I publicize their name as being attached to it, whereas they always agree. They, themselves NEVER publicize their involvement with a film project (except for a cast member I just put on the project, which is the big National news that everybody will be apprised of when it's aired, of course, which he is going to go crazy on publicizing it along with me) until we're about to go into filming.
An example of that is when Warner Bros. said, for YEARS that they're going to have Christian Bale play Batman, when they were to do the World's Finest movie (I'm still floored that they also wanted either Jude Law or Josh Hartnet to play Superman), but Christian always said that no such thing existed. Finally, they scrapped the WF movie, but started the Batman Begins project, which Christian Bale didn't confirm his role as Batman until they went into filming, while Warner was saying it for a long time before they started filming, and Christian still declined his involvement again, until they went into filming.
Now, for the bad side of that coin: too many mistakes were made by both Marvel and DC. Examples: After the craze that ocurred with the first Michael Keaton Batman movie, Warner continually said that Robin Williams WILL play the Riddler in an upcoming sequal (even Frank Gorshin went on interviews saying it). When it finally came down to Riddler being in a movie, they FINALLY went to Robin who said Hell no! You people never asked me first, but said that I will, so there's no way I'll take the role! Then, Warner put their tails between their legs and cast Jim Carrey, saying that's who they wanted in the first place... so, NYAH! Marvel had a similar experience by saying that John Malcovich was going to play Green Goblin... and we all know how that turned out.
As Producers, we start hype as early as possible so that the project will be on everybody's lips endlessly and when the film actually comes out, people will be all that much more excited to see it. Without that hype, nobody knows what a film is, and the ticket sales suffer for it because people weren't MADE to be excited about it, as they don't know what the Hell this project ever was.
I just get bits and pieces of hype out, here and there. When we go into filming, there will be a media blitz, so that people get extremely excited about it and line up at the box office. That's how you build an audience, with word of mouth, for a property that isn't known. Then, it gets known through curiosity-seekers and everybody tells everybody else.
If you guys had never gotten the first press releases and e-mails about me, 6+ years ago, you never would even have come close to talking about me, even for a passing conversational mention. Right? What turned it really bad with us is that I started getting defensive right away, as you guys did too (please don't argue that, as you can logically come to that conclusion as well, when my hurt words struck back at you). I do have fans all over the World, scattered as they might be, and some have even grown older, finding something else to put their fan sites into, such as the Japanese LBC fan site that was started by a 12 year old girl but, by the time she turned 16, her interests went elsewhere and her site has disappeared since then, as well as her (and her fan members') fan mail to me. It happens, that way with everyone. To this "fan site," I was a bit of a passing fad. Maybe, when the BombShell movie comes out over there, she'll renew the site, but maybe not. It doesn't matter as I was absolutely amazed and heavily complimented that there was a site there, to begin with. That's why I talked about it so much... I was completely dumb-founded about it, couldn't believe it myself, at the time, and wanted to share it with everybody else.
How did Omar take care of the other situation (I'm assuming you're talking about the posters)? You know what, I don't really know if you received the posters or not, but I'm perfectly willing to send posters to you again, just to show that I never ripped you off. I don't use tubes for mailing them, but if you'll accept having them mailed folded once, in a yellow envelope, I'll send them to you again.
Lemme' know if there's something I haven't covered here.
J-:cool:

J-Bolt,

I'm sincere here. Let me explain myself a bit. I like to help people. It's kind of a hobby of mine. You can ask Scott Shaw! or Louis Bright-Raven or any number of other people here, I enjoy helping other people. With that in mind, understand that it drives me stark staring nuts to see somebody with potential completely blow it for foolish reasons. That's the case with you, in my honest opinion. You have artistic talent and a measure of creativity, but your need to promote yourself at the expense of your project is painful to watch.

There are a bunch or "rules for life" that I keep telling my kids. There's the Rule of Holes: "You can't dig your way out of a hole; as soon as you discover that you are in one, stop digging." There's the Rule of Knowledge: "You can't learn anything you think you already know." and a whole bunch more that the kids are sick of hearing. I think you should seriously contemplate these two rules in particular. There is much truth in them.

Now, as I said before, OMAR has eliminated the source of my last conflict with you, so that's bygones as far as I'm concerned. Let's turn our attention forward and put the past behind us.

First, let's define a term. Friends. Friends are people who have your back, who have your best interests at heart, and who can count on you to do the same. Agreed? Okay, part of that is that friends tell each other the truth, and call each other on the bullshit. Now, that doesn't mean friends get permission to attack each other. If your friends let you get away with BS that will come back to bite you when strangers catch on, they aren't your friends. Again, it's like I tell my kids, "would you rather have me tell you what you're doing wrong, knowing that I care about you, or would you rather find out you're wrong when some stranger punches you in the mouth for it?"

The point of that is, if you want to be friends, you have to accept criticism and disagreement as honest observation, not as "bashing." If you want to surround yourself with people who tell you that you shit soft-serve vanilla ice cream, you can do that, but those people aren't your friends. They are people trying to take advantage of you or set you up for failure.

If you can accept the fact that occasionally your friends are going to challenge you to back up your claims, or argue with you about things sometimes, and recognize that it's not an attack, we'll get along just fine.

Frankly, I think that Bombshell has some potential, but it needs to be done the right way, and that includes not hyping anything until it's actually ready for hyping, and then hyping it the right way. For example, if Busty McBlonde has signed a contract, have the hype about it come from her, not you. Meanwhile, you keep working on the important part, which is the actual art and writing of the thing.

kingdom2000

08-03-2006, 05:12 PM

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 05:14 PM

Yes, Mac...
I do appreciate that, more than words can even say.
I'm just as into being honest-to-goodness friends as you are, Chum (I like that word).
Thanks forever,
J-:cool:

J-Bolt: Check it out...

http://www.monkeyspit.net/rantman/jbolt.php

Okay?

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 05:20 PM

Maybe because nobody wants to dislike anyone anymore? After all this length of time, isn't it better for a cease-fire? Or are you more into the war? Nobody is feeding anybody anything... we're just trying to get the truths, share what we all have, and move on from there.
Who knows... this could turn into something great.
J-Bolt

Sigh, why does this thread keep coming back like the living dead? Wether the guy post as j-bolt is the real one or not, considering how much all of you dislike him, I really don't understand this effort that you make to feed him.

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 05:44 PM

Everybody here always says they want to see more art from me, and such, so I figured this would be a good ice-breaker to start another conversation.
I get asked often that if I were to do a comic for somebody else, like DC, what comic would I like to do. My answer is always the same. Batman is my favorite DC character and I love parodies, which is what makes Bat-Mite great. If I were to have a chance at doing so, I'd love to do a Mad magazine parody style of a Bat-Mite series.
I tried to attach a Mites pic I did, but I must've done something wrong because I couldn't get it to go through. Please lemme' know how to do it, somebody. Meanwhile, I just put it as a link, below. Lemme' know what you guys think.

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/BatMites.jpg

Also, I haven't gotten any formal pics taken with the new J-Bolt sunglasses, but I do have a candid one that was taken last year, so that you guys can see them. Here ya' go:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/JBolt5605.jpg

J-

Crowley

08-03-2006, 05:44 PM

...

is this real?

SUPERECWFAN1

08-03-2006, 05:51 PM

So, what I'm asking is whenever you find something wrong, why not say "hey, J-, I like where your story is going, but you might want to think about expanding on this character's speech more, or the vocabulary, etc., but keep doing that story lead-up." Then, just as it always worked for every, single student I taught, no matter what their age or skill was, it would be taken as constructive criticism.

Which is what I said about the Draco. You have an interesting premise. Its just I don't dig what the character looked like from what I remember.

I'm not being mean at all. As someone offering constructive criticism I think you have something there with that character. It just needs fine tuned more.

As for promotion, lemme' give a few examples of why it works, as well as when it doesn't: every cast/crew member attached to the film is asked, as soon as they've signed their name, that I publicize their name as being attached to it, whereas they always agree. They, themselves NEVER publicize their involvement with a film project (except for a cast member I just put on the project, which is the big National news that everybody will be apprised of when it's aired, of course, which he is going to go crazy on publicizing it along with me) until we're about to go into filming.

Which is something I really don't understand eithor. Why not work on your material and leave the promotion of the movie to yourself and not promote it til its ready to happen ? This way til everything is solid and you & the stars can annouce your film project and we'll all be happy.

An example of that is when Warner Bros. said, for YEARS that they're going to have Christian Bale play Batman, when they were to do the World's Finest movie (I'm still floored that they also wanted either Jude Law or Josh Hartnet to play Superman), but Christian always said that no such thing existed.

Actually J-Bolt the idea to do Worlds Finest was to give a creative jolt to both the Superman and Batman franchises. Now with Batman Begins they really wanted to start over and relaunch the franchise from what Batman & Robin was. They wanted to do a Batman solo film 1st.

WF was a Wolfgang Peterson project and he wanted Superman & Batman in it. That idea was scrapped in 2003/2004 when Warners got McG to do a Superman flick. He walked and in 2004/2005 they came to Bryan Singer who did his film. Now WF seems back on and theres rumors Nolen and Singer could direct this big movie.

Finally, they scrapped the WF movie, but started the Batman Begins project, which Christian Bale didn't confirm his role as Batman until they went into filming, while Warner was saying it for a long time before they started filming, and Christian still declined his involvement again, until they went into filming.

Actually it was pretty clear that Bale was gonna be Batman. Nolen wanted him on the project and made a huge effort to get him. He came in ( and its on the DVD of Batman Begins) and was underwieght. Nolen said he had to bulk up ASAP. Bale started gorging himself and gained over 100+ pounds and was too big lol. People joked that the bat suit wouldn't fit on him.

He underwent a personal trainer and regime to get himself cut back down. But yeah....once he came in and was fit they all said he was gonna be Batman.

Now, for the bad side of that coin: too many mistakes were made by both Marvel and DC. Examples: After the craze that ocurred with the first Michael Keaton Batman movie, Warner continually said that Robin Williams WILL play the Riddler in an upcoming sequal (even Frank Gorshin went on interviews saying it). When it finally came down to Riddler being in a movie, they FINALLY went to Robin who said Hell no! You people never asked me first, but said that I will, so there's no way I'll take the role! Then, Warner put their tails between their legs and cast Jim Carrey, saying that's who they wanted in the first place... so, NYAH! Marvel had a similar experience by saying that John Malcovich was going to play Green Goblin... and we all know how that turned out.

And from that I saw Robin Williams on a special awhile back and he said that he did plan to play the Riddler in the Batman movie. But backed out to do something else and he recommended Jim Carrey for the role. Warners took his advice and the rest is history. I really don't know about John Malcovich as the Green Goblin though.

As Producers, we start hype as early as possible so that the project will be on everybody's lips endlessly and when the film actually comes out, people will be all that much more excited to see it. Without that hype, nobody knows what a film is, and the ticket sales suffer for it because people weren't MADE to be excited about it, as they don't know what the Hell this project ever was.

But many producers don't really let themselves hype the movie. Sometimes they'll sit back and let other internet sites like ACIN and all do the hyping of the film for them.

If you look at V for Vendetta , the film had every reason to be a failure. It was dealing with a rough subject and they pushed it back from its planned November 2005 release date. The signs were pointed to failure. But the trailers and all paid off. The film did very well.

Then theres too much hype. Like the situation in 2000 with Godzilla. The movie from what many said was the most hyped film of that year and it crashed & burned fast. Fans said it best " it didn't live up to the hype " in a way. You really don't have to be in HYPE mode 24/7 for your film to make it.

I just get bits and pieces of hype out, here and there. When we go into filming, there will be a media blitz, so that people get extremely excited about it and line up at the box office. That's how you build an audience, with word of mouth, for a property that isn't known. Then, it gets known through curiosity-seekers and everybody tells everybody else.

If the film is good thats awesome. Because people will watch an unknown property. My only questions to you is the fact that your property isn't as well known as a Superman , Spiderman or even Punisher. Those films had a lead in with people who knew the property and would follow it to the big screen.

Look at Spawn in 1997. It had alead in with McFarlane's comics and TV show on HBO. Thats what helped him attract a fanbase to theators. Comic book films are a rougher sell now at times as people are getting very fickle about what thier watching.

My only questions to you is how you can translate a character like Bombshell to the big screen with a cast of well...B-Actors ( I'm sorry...Adam West is as far from A-List to me as possible) and expect it to click in this era of 2007 ?

This isn't being mean J-Bolt. I just had these questions as I did last year.

OzBat!

08-03-2006, 05:52 PM

Sigh, why does this thread keep coming back like the living dead? Wether the guy post as j-bolt is the real one or not, considering how much all of you dislike him, I really don't understand this effort that you make to feed him.Try some reading comprehension... it's come back to life because we're trying to build some bridges, here. You can't do that effectively, by ignoring what came before. You need to resolve what you can, and then move forward. This is the process currently in motion. I could ask you instead, why do YOU feel the need to slam the participants in this thread?

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 06:08 PM

Sigh, why does this thread keep coming back like the living dead? Wether the guy post as j-bolt is the real one or not, considering how much all of you dislike him, I really don't understand this effort that you make to feed him.
Let's get that straight right now... I never disliked J-Bolt. I was frustrated and aggravated and disappointed by him on various occasions, I felt ripped off by him on one occasion, and I really hated his approach to publicity, but I talked to the guy on the phone for over two hours once. I don't waste that kind of time on people I dislike.

If you can scare up an archived copy of the page that I jus took down, you will note that at no time do I criticize his artwork. The whole page revolved around his hype, his business practices and his writing. (The great thing about writing is it can be fixed by a decent editor. Brian Bendis can't spell to save his life, and his grammar is awful, but he can cook up a good story and interesting dialogue, and that's what matters.)

I hope this new improved J-Bolt sticks around.

And he is definitely the real J-Bolt. Nobody else writes a post the way he does.

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 06:12 PM

Everybody here always says they want to see more art from me, and such, so I figured this would be a good ice-breaker to start another conversation.
I get asked often that if I were to do a comic for somebody else, like DC, what comic would I like to do. My answer is always the same. Batman is my favorite DC character and I love parodies, which is what makes Bat-Mite great. If I were to have a chance at doing so, I'd love to do a Mad magazine parody style of a Bat-Mite series.
I tried to attach a Mites pic I did, but I must've done something wrong because I couldn't get it to go through. Please lemme' know how to do it, somebody. Meanwhile, I just put it as a link, below. Lemme' know what you guys think.

I love it. Seriously, this is some of the best art I've ever seen out of you. Do more humor, it suits you.

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 06:32 PM

OzBat!

08-03-2006, 06:33 PM

I just want to say, and I'm not being facetious in any way, that I miss the old squarer J-Bolt "mask" eyewear. Like any costume change, I'll get used to the new look, and I think it'll open you up to less ridicule in the long run. But!! the old mask was all kinds of goofy fun, and I'll miss it.

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 07:00 PM

Which is what I said about the Draco. You have an interesting premise. Its just I don't dig what the character looked like from what I remember. I'm not being mean at all. As someone offering constructive criticism I think you have something there with that character. It just needs fine tuned more.

I understand, but most of the aspects you've described are in the Draco story. You just haven't gotten to see enough of it to know where the story is going. Be patient and wait for it. Then you'll see what happens with it from there.

Which is something I really don't understand eithor. Why not work on your material and leave the promotion of the movie to yourself and not promote it til its ready to happen ? This way til everything is solid and you & the stars can annouce your film project and we'll all be happy.

Because the movie is happening now, ergo it's being promoted. If I were to wait until we go into filming, we'll be over-shadowed by the other more known character films.

Actually J-Bolt the idea to do Worlds Finest was to give a creative jolt to both the Superman and Batman franchises. Now with Batman Begins they really wanted to start over and relaunch the franchise from what Batman & Robin was. They wanted to do a Batman solo film 1st. WF was a Wolfgang Peterson project and he wanted Superman & Batman in it. That idea was scrapped in 2003/2004 when Warners got McG to do a Superman flick. He walked and in 2004/2005 they came to Bryan Singer who did his film. Now WF seems back on and theres rumors Nolen and Singer could direct this big movie. Actually it was pretty clear that Bale was gonna be Batman. Nolen wanted him on the project and made a huge effort to get him. He came in ( and its on the DVD of Batman Begins) and was underwieght. Nolen said he had to bulk up ASAP. Bale started gorging himself and gained over 100+ pounds and was too big lol. People joked that the bat suit wouldn't fit on him. He underwent a personal trainer and regime to get himself cut back down. But yeah....once he came in and was fit they all said he was gonna be Batman. And from that I saw Robin Williams on a special awhile back and he said that he did plan to play the Riddler in the Batman movie. But backed out to do something else and he recommended Jim Carrey for the role. Warners took his advice and the rest is history. I really don't know about John Malcovich as the Green Goblin though.

Right, but the point was, though, that I never say anyone involved with the BombShell film is such unless I have something in writing from them, stating it to be a fact. But other producers have done it without some type of confirmation, while actors/actresses that did have it in writing also said they weren't connected until they were to go into filming. The production company always starts promoting as soon as they have something in writing, as I have. This caused the word-of-mouth, right from the beginning, amongst those who want to see the film and industry professionals.

But many producers don't really let themselves hype the movie. Sometimes they'll sit back and let other internet sites like ACIN and all do the hyping of the film for them. If you look at V for Vendetta , the film had every reason to be a failure. It was dealing with a rough subject and they pushed it back from its planned November 2005 release date. The signs were pointed to failure. But the trailers and all paid off. The film did very well.

Right, but they can afford to let others promote the films for them, since they already have a built-in audience. I had to start it myself, with the help of other publicists, on occassion.

Then theres too much hype. Like the situation in 2000 with Godzilla. The movie from what many said was the most hyped film of that year and it crashed & burned fast. Fans said it best " it didn't live up to the hype " in a way. You really don't have to be in HYPE mode 24/7 for your film to make it.

Precisely. My goal is to just keep BombShell on everybody's lips and, when the project goes into filming is when the real hype will come out.

If the film is good thats awesome. Because people will watch an unknown property. My only questions to you is the fact that your property isn't as well known as a Superman , Spiderman or even Punisher. Those films had a lead in with people who knew the property and would follow it to the big screen.

That's why the hype is important: to make people remember it, even if it's just a brief thought, while waiting for the film to come out. Then, they can judge the film as it stands and make a decision from there.

Look at Spawn in 1997. It had alead in with McFarlane's comics and TV show on HBO. Thats what helped him attract a fanbase to theators. Comic book films are a rougher sell now at times as people are getting very fickle about what thier watching.

Actually, they've become even easier, because the leyman has now been exposed to the comic films and found that they like them. They just want more variety of characters that aren't wearing leather and/or rubber.
By the way, McFarlane caused damage when he didn't put out the sequal as promised in this 9 years since that film came out. Now, he's saying that he's going to make another one, producing it himself, for no more than $10 million. Again, he has a built-in audience, even with the fans that felt let down by the sequal not coming out. Now everybody says "oh, he's saying he's making one now? I'll believe it when I see it." What's the difference between the situation of him taking so long to do a film as opposed to me? He has the money and other resources easily at his disposal, while I've had to work for all mine from scratch and it's only taken me 6 years to get further on this first time film than it's taken him 9 years to not even have a new script.

My only questions to you is how you can translate a character like Bombshell to the big screen with a cast of well...B-Actors ( I'm sorry...Adam West is as far from A-List to me as possible) and expect it to click in this era of 2007 ?

Alan Alda was considered a "B-Actor" until he was put onto the big screen. So was Pat Morita and many others. I cast the actors that I've chosen as a matter of whether or not I feel they fit the role they're playing. Adam was cast based on his reputation as a womanizer and the character he's playing is a womanizing sexist. Adam likes the idea of the role so much because he has to really convince the audience to hate him through this role, maybe finally getting rid of the bat-signal over his head, if he can pull it off, like I believe he will.

This isn't being mean J-Bolt. I just had these questions as I did last year.

I know it's not being mean. They're viable questions that don't have any vicious undertones about them. We're wiping the slate clean... remember? So, I'm not being overly-defensive about what is said to me. I appreciate you doing the same for me.

Thanks,
J-:)

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 07:07 PM

Thanks. I guess you guys really haven't seen enough work from me because this is just a fun cartoony thing I was playing with. I've really got to change that and get more work done, so you can see that this barking dog also bites more. Thanks for the wake up call, there.
J-:o

I love it. Seriously, this is some of the best art I've ever seen out of you. Do more humor, it suits you.

J-Bolt

08-03-2006, 07:17 PM

I haven't seen the Ellis forum in a LONG time, but I do remember that they were the ones to start it all off. If they kept it going, I don't even want to know, as that'll just keep some hard feelings rather refreshed.
I'll never enjoy an oreo cookie the same way agin. LOL
It sounds to me like I just need to send you and Omar some posters, so that niether of you feel cheated, whether or not you received the ones I originally sent out. Get me you guys addresses, eh?
Please don't hold it against Omar for supporting me, as he obviously has been just as much an advocate of me as those who were against me. Nobody can fault him for that anymore than anyone else would want blame for being against me. Right?
Thanks, Omar.
J-:cool:

Understood. According to what I've heard, you took a lot more heat from the Warren Ellis forums than you did here. But I'm sure it all bleeds together.

The contructive criticism technique you describe is what some people call the "oreo technique": give 'em a cookie, then give 'em the important part, then given 'em another cookie. I use it when coaching archery.

<oreo_technique="on">
Your explanation makes a lot of sense, and I understand what you're saying. One little detail: "whereas" means "because." It doesn't really make sense in this sentence. But I understand what you're saying, and it is a legitimate approach to publicity. I don't completely agree with it, and there is a tremendous risk of failure involved, but sometimes it works.
<oreo_technique="off">

He got sick of hearing me talk about it, so he sent me a money order on condition that I shut up about them. I think he's nuts for doing that, but oh well.

Sabrinaset

08-03-2006, 07:32 PM

Try some reading comprehension... it's come back to life because we're trying to build some bridges, here. You can't do that effectively, by ignoring what came before. You need to resolve what you can, and then move forward. This is the process currently in motion. I could ask you instead, why do YOU feel the need to slam the participants in this thread?

Well, I was gunna post some more pictures of my boobs, but since you guys have buried the hatchet, I guess I'll hold off! :D

Cam63

08-03-2006, 07:51 PM

No. Boob pictures are more than welcome !

SUPERECWFAN1

08-03-2006, 07:58 PM

Well, I was gunna post some more pictures of my boobs, but since you guys have buried the hatchet, I guess I'll hold off! :D

Mmmm now I know why I as an ECW freak worship you. ;)

PatrickG

08-03-2006, 08:01 PM

This thread just has me grinning from ear to ear.

I like your idea, J-Bolt and my one proviso is that not EVERYONE may want to do super-heroes. There are some people here who love comics and not so much super-heroes.

At the same time, I also dig the idea of everyone doing a pet project that is close to their heart.

I really dig the Bat-Mites.

And given Mac's background (and connections) I kinda expect that at least one piece may have a "funny animal" bent.

The cool thing I'm envisioning is that our sampler may well have cartoon animals, 20 something slackers, relationship drama, pulp sci-fi action and, yes, super-heroes.

If we can do all that in one story, all the better.

My spider-sense is tingling with an idea similar to Morrison's Seven Soldiers project in some odd way. I'll post more when it's more concrete but I have this idea forming for an "event" or a "theme" that could tie together talking rabbits, old married couples, kids in the far future and super-heroes without necessarily foisting them into a rigid "shared universe" that Mac so dislikes.

OzBat!

08-03-2006, 08:15 PM

And given Mac's background (and connections) I kinda expect that at least one piece may have a "funny animal" bent.Funnily enough, about a week ago before we started throwing this idea around, I struck inspiration for the first time in years and started scribbling down notes for an aussie cartoonish pastiche titled "Bush League".

And yes, it DOES have a drop bear!

Cam63

08-03-2006, 08:29 PM

Koala or Bundaberg polar bear ?

OzBat!

08-03-2006, 08:45 PM

Killer Commando Koala. I'm going native species only, here...

Maybe I can work Bundy into a cameo. Don't want to infringe any copyrights!

SUPERECWFAN1

08-03-2006, 08:49 PM

I understand, but most of the aspects you've described are in the Draco story. You just haven't gotten to see enough of it to know where the story is going. Be patient and wait for it. Then you'll see what happens with it from there.

Again I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt there. I'm just going from what I remember I saw then. The aspects I'm bringing up ( Draco looking like Fat Elvis , the origin sample , and conflict) are in that. Maybe if this comic thing happens , you can revamp the character and bring him into today.

Because the movie is happening now, ergo it's being promoted. If I were to wait until we go into filming, we'll be over-shadowed by the other more known character films.

Your film , and I mean this as a good guy , try as I might will always suffer that J-Bolt. Your characters aren't as known. More or less big films like Ghost Rider and others will over shadow it.

Right, but the point was, though, that I never say anyone involved with the BombShell film is such unless I have something in writing from them, stating it to be a fact. But other producers have done it without some type of confirmation, while actors/actresses that did have it in writing also said they weren't connected until they were to go into filming. The production company always starts promoting as soon as they have something in writing, as I have. This caused the word-of-mouth, right from the beginning, amongst those who want to see the film and industry professionals.

Which is Hollywood and I can understand since I have no idea how the machine works. Its really hurt you though image wise , J-Bolt.

Alan Alda was considered a "B-Actor" until he was put onto the big screen.

Well to be truthful his star rose the moment he got M.A.S.H. He's always had a movie presence after that though and remains selective as a star. He made enough on M.A.S.H to pick and choose his roles. ( he made upwards of $ 250,000 grand a episode by the end its said)

So was Pat Morita and many others. I cast the actors that I've chosen as a matter of whether or not I feel they fit the role they're playing.

In terms of Hollywood career though Alda has sadly been more of a presence in recent years than Morita.

Adam was cast based on his reputation as a womanizer and the character he's playing is a womanizing sexist. Adam likes the idea of the role so much because he has to really convince the audience to hate him through this role, maybe finally getting rid of the bat-signal over his head, if he can pull it off, like I believe he will.

I have nothing against Adam West but you do realize...he's near 80 now don't you ? I really can't see West playing a near 80 yearold sexist even though he may excel at it.

There are other less known stars who are younger J-Bolt and could possibly appeal to what you need in this film. I'd say you should possibly look at them for it.

EdContradictory

08-03-2006, 08:57 PM

I understand, but most of the aspects you've described are in the Draco story. You just haven't gotten to see enough of it to know where the story is going. Be patient and wait for it.
What year shall we plan to wait until?:rolleyes:

EdContradictory

08-03-2006, 09:01 PM

I'm certain that OMAR is not J-Bolt.

No, not the Jim Fisher J-Bolt, I meant the guy pretending to be J-Bolt posting in this forum (you know, the one that doesn't sound anything like any of J-Bolt's confirmed previous postings).

Gail Simone

08-03-2006, 09:14 PM

No, not the Jim Fisher J-Bolt, I meant the guy pretending to be J-Bolt posting in this forum (you know, the one that doesn't sound anything like any of J-Bolt's confirmed previous postings).

Something's fishy. But I haven't had time to read through everything.

Anyway, it's all in good fun.

Gail

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 09:17 PM

Please don't hold it against Omar for supporting me, as he obviously has been just as much an advocate of me as those who were against me. Nobody can fault him for that anymore than anyone else would want blame for being against me. Right?
Thanks, Omar.
J-:cool:
I'm not blaming him for defending you. I disagree with his interpretations of events, but as General Patton said, "if everybody's thinking the same thing, nobody's thinking."

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 09:20 PM

And given Mac's background (and connections) I kinda expect that at least one piece may have a "funny animal" bent.
How well you know me.

Yes, I'll be doing something with funny animals. Funny dead animals. In space. With anime girls and ninjas and a giant robot dinosaur piloted by a chimp. And a cowboy.

MacQuarrie

08-03-2006, 09:23 PM

No, not the Jim Fisher J-Bolt, I meant the guy pretending to be J-Bolt posting in this forum (you know, the one that doesn't sound anything like any of J-Bolt's confirmed previous postings).
I think he's taking extra care with his posts, knowing that there are grammar nazis around these parts. But there are certain telltale signs that indicate clearly to me that this is the same guy.

Crowley

08-03-2006, 11:36 PM

yeah...

my BS detector is going off...

Gail Simone

08-03-2006, 11:48 PM

As I say, it's all in good fun, take everything on both sides with a grain of salt.

Gail

howyadoin

08-03-2006, 11:51 PM

I think he's taking extra care with his posts, knowing that there are grammar nazis around these parts."Grammar Nazis" = "people who speak English"?

SUPERECWFAN1

08-03-2006, 11:55 PM

He seems like the real J-Bolt to me as well. The whole movie hype thing since we debated that a long while back.

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:20 AM

Again I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt there. I'm just going from what I remember I saw then. The aspects I'm bringing up ( Draco looking like Fat Elvis , the origin sample , and conflict) are in that. Maybe if this comic thing happens , you can revamp the character and bring him into today.

In Hades, Draco has a kinda' ponytail, huge-spitcurl look, but he's not fat. Manes is the the only same-height fat guy in it. I wanted Draco to have the demonic heavy metal look, when he is merged with the mortal, Eric Faux. That heavy metal look never really goes out of style. By the way, I do have the Draco character evolving, and even mention that as part of his storyline with the Draco t-shirt in the LBC Members Store. The evolution will span over time, depending on where I decide the character should go and where the readers (such as yourself) would like to see him go. I take notes of everything in that regard.

Your film , and I mean this as a good guy , try as I might will always suffer that J-Bolt. Your characters aren't as known. More or less big films like Ghost Rider and others will over shadow it.

That's precisely why I need for BombShell to stay on everybody's lips for as long as possible before the media blitz starts: so that the moment the blitz begins, everybody will be saying "Oh, yeah! I've been hearing about that movie for a long time, now, so I can't wait to finally be able to see it."

Which is Hollywood and I can understand since I have no idea how the machine works. Its really hurt you though image wise , J-Bolt.

I'm not being argumentative or such, but I disagree. It has helped me a great deal in getting everything done that I've needed, so far. If it had done the opposite, I couldn't have even come close to geting a fraction of the things I've gotten for the film already. For example, my use of promoting got me 40 - 45 minutes of music scoring for the film by the London Symphony Orchestra for only $250,000, and that includes the composer fee. This was just because the European composer, Aleksander Dimitrijevic, knew of the project and came to me, giving his composing submission in response to some Internet press that made it to Europe. I could use other examples also, but I think that one is pretty strong to make my point.

Well to be truthful his star rose the moment he got M.A.S.H. He's always had a movie presence after that though and remains selective as a star. He made enough on M.A.S.H to pick and choose his roles. ( he made upwards of $ 250,000 grand a episode by the end its said) In terms of Hollywood career though Alda has sadly been more of a presence in recent years than Morita.

In more recent years, they're actually about the same because Alan hadn't been on the big screen for a long time, until the last 10 years or so, while Pat was on it endlessly right after TV, even being up for an Oscar for Karate Kid, not to mention that when you work for Disney, like Pat did in the later years of his life, that takes very strong star power, which Alan hasn't yet tapped into.

I have nothing against Adam West but you do realize...he's near 80 now don't you ? I really can't see West playing a near 80 yearold sexist even though he may excel at it.

But, that's the thing because that's the way I wrote the role. You see, I had Adam in mind when I wrote that character, just like I had Pat in mind for his role. The only difference is that Pat and I were friends and I had only met with Adam a few times, which we never became friends. I mean, who better to play an older sexist pig than an older guy who used to grab Batgirl's boobs on a regular basis and claim it to be an accident... every... single... time?

There are other less known stars who are younger J-Bolt and could possibly appeal to what you need in this film. I'd say you should possibly look at them for it.

I'm not looking for lesser known actors/actresses. I look for ones that I think will play the role well. On top of that, I look for these talented thespians in an effort that they can look like the character, as well. I didn't originally cast Rena Mero for the BombShell role because she has blond hair and big boobs. What got my attention on her was the fact that she looked like the character, but more importantly, as soon as I saw her lawsuit against the Wrestling Federation, I seriously felt that she showed the perfect amount of conviction that it would take to make the BombShell role a 3D character... not a T&A film. I knew the same kind of talent and meaning would go behind the role for Sam to do it, as well.
I don't worry about what an actor/actress costs to be in the film, as whenever somebody reads the script, they want what amount I'm offering, knowing what this role can do for them, since comic book films do a great deal in showing how far an actor can stretch, besides the fact that I didn't write this as a comic book film: I just wrote it as a good movie that I'd want to see with different aspects from all genres of films. I made sure that there's something for everybody in the film and everybody who is attached to it likes what the end result is.

Don't take my answers as being defensive or anything. I'm just giving the answers based on the fact that I'm not just some fanboy who decided one day that he wanted to make a movie and started putting everybody he could think of into it and seeing what happens. All my life, I've been a fan of film-making and studied it profusely. I've long recognized what's right and wrong with comic book films, and I strategize every single detail that I put into it, as a result. I detail everything from when it should be released, to making sure the story has something in it that doesn't extremely limit me to when it should be released, to getting the right people for each job who will make sure my vision stands so that I will either succeed in it or take the fall, but that I won't take blame for somebody else screwing it up and me taking the blame as Writer/Producer. There's a solid reaon for each and every detail I'm putting into this project and anytime I find that something doesn't work, I analyze as to why, then I create the solution to make it work. The most important thing is that I listen to what other people want in a good comic book movie, with my own experiences adding to that so that I come up with an equal comparison. Sometimes I get a little ahead of myself, which I catch myself and make up for the inadequacy by re-evaluating what I did, then doing it the right way immediately after I learn my lesson. Sometimes, it even takes me more times to learn that lesson, but like you do on a hard question in a school test, I skip it and move on, then come back to it later when I've had a chance to clear my head.
Anyway, I hope this clarifies why I make some of the decisions that I do.
J-

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:34 AM

I tell you what, Ed...
You ask me anything that only I (Jim J-Bolt Fisher) would know and I'll answer it as only I can.
I'm sure the only reason Ed is doubting me is because I've finally gotten the common-ground friendship possibility that I've tried to get all these years with everybody here and I'm not on an absolutely defensive ranting against anyone here, so I probably don't sound (or rather read) like I did the last time I was posting here.
If that doesn't convice you, Gail, Mac, why don't you PM me and ask me things that only we have discussed and nobody else would know (such as phone calls with Mac or private chats with Gail). How about Papergirl doing that little go-out-on-a-date rouse, on the old LBC site forum one time? Throw something difficult and you'll have your proof. This is, of course, other than the newer pic of me that I attached that literally has not been given out ever, ergo, the real J-Bolt <I'm standing up for the sake of that old game show> would have to post on here.
Lemme' know what it would take to convince you and why you're having your doubts. I'm sure it's because I'm not writing like a raving lunatic, but there may be another reason. Just lemme' know.
J-

No, not the Jim Fisher J-Bolt, I meant the guy pretending to be J-Bolt posting in this forum (you know, the one that doesn't sound anything like any of J-Bolt's confirmed previous postings).

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:43 AM

...confirm me to be the real J-Bolt because if Simone even doubts it, there's a freakin' problem. The only difference between me writing now and back then is that I'm calmer now. After all, I wasn't known for coming onto forums under different user handles... right?
As soon as we can get this out of the way, then maybe we can ALL get to having normal conversations.
This is getting frustrating, Man... really.
J-:mad:

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:55 AM

howyadoin

08-04-2006, 02:23 AM

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 04:26 AM

To be honest, J-bolt, what threw me was the open acknowledgement of being Jim Fisher after years of denying it. I'm not being sarcastic or mean here, perhaps I misunderstood. But did you not say just a bit earlier in this thread that you were Jim J-Bolt Fisher, something you've hotly denied for years?

Gail

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 04:29 AM

This is the quote that baffled me. "There is only one Jim J-Bolt Fisher and it is me."

Again, not trying to accuse you of anything, just trying to understand the sudden about-face.

Gail

MacQuarrie

08-04-2006, 09:13 AM

I know how to cure this doubt of who I am once and for all...
Mac... Do you still have the same phone number as you did when you called me in Pahrump last year? If so, lemme' know as well as what time (Pacific Standard Time for me, please) of when to call you and you'll be able to confirm 100% to everybody that I am the real deal.
That should do it for EVERYBODY. Right?
Thanks,
J-
My cell phone number is in the 626 area code, 497-2O38. I have it with me all the time. Call any time before 10:00 PM. PDT (it's Daylight Savings Time now, Standard Time doesn't kick in for a couple of months yet).

But as I said before, I believe you. Like Gail, I was a little surprised by your sudden admission of your real name, given how zealously you denied it previously, even to the extent of statign it to my attorney friend in your voice-mail to him. But, y'know what? It's your name, and you can call yourself whatever you want.

But while we're on the subject, where does this leave J.B. Fisher? I've checked the Index of Periodicals at the library and searched the archives of a couple of the larger Nevada newspapers, and I can't find any mention of him; no by-lines, no articles, as far as I can tell, your interview is the only thing he's ever written. Are you sticking to your claim that you aren't J.B. Fisher interviewing yourself? It's really not that big a deal either way. I'm not trying to restart an argument here, it just always seemed to me that this was a major reason why you said you weren't Jim Fisher.

Regardless, if you want to call, I'll be happy to verify that you are who you say you are.

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 11:06 AM

If Mac says it's J-bolt, that's enough for me. Just surprised by the Jim Fisher thing, that's all.

Best,

Gail

sk716

08-04-2006, 12:28 PM

I'm a little stunned and having been sick for the last two days isn't helping, heat exhaustion is a bitch.

If were all gonna bury hatchets and shake hands then it's probably best if J-Bolt is aware that I'm the one that did J-Bolted and I don't apologize for it.

I'm more than willing to let things be and not intentionally antagonize him anymore.

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 12:31 PM

EdContradictory

08-04-2006, 12:46 PM

If were all gonna bury hatchets and shake hands
We are?

Man, I remember when you all were hardcore.

This is turning into an afterschool special. :confused:

sk716

08-04-2006, 12:51 PM

You can do a "Gailiens" website to make up for it. ;)

Gail

Don't tempt me!

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 12:52 PM

How do I know you're the REAL Ed?

Gail

sk716

08-04-2006, 12:53 PM

We are?

Man, I remember when you all were hardcore.

This is turning into an afterschool special. :confused:

I'm still hardcore but at the moment I'm also lightheaded and a little sick to my stomach. Also, my face feels like it's on fire... I'm not at all myself right now. Maybe tomorrow I'll start "The Bodies in Your Moms Basement"

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:23 PM

Gail...
You're the one one who dug up the physical proof, when you found my copyright registration containing my real name. You finally was able to get the only proof of physical evidence of my real name, that existed in the ENTIRE World, which there would be no way on Heaven or Earth that I could hide it, nor make an excuse for it,... and yet you still expected me to argue it? I mean, this is probably the only situation that if you caught Clark Kent with this kinda' evidence, he'd say "aw, screw it... here's my freakin' cape," and you still thought I'd argue it?
When I told you my real name in our chat, a long time ago, and you exposed it in posts, against my wishes, I at least had a great excuse to say it wasn't true by claiming that you could've added it into the transcript or such... but, there's no way to weasle out of a legal Government copyright registration.
I've always said that when I'm wrong. In this case though, I'm not wrong by trying to protect my name (especially with the reasons involved which I felt really violated that you knew, yet you still did it), but when you actually got the proof, I had to think about it and came up with the fact that Jim Fisher is such a common name, that it doesn't really matter that it is exposed. There's several Jim Fishers in the entertainment industry alone. What's cool is that there are even a lot of Jim Fishers who are tall, slender, and with long hair. So, I re-evaluated my perspective and decided that you got me on this one, like how Austin Powers was caught, in the first movie, with his 'pump.' No matter how much I'd try to squirm outta' this one, there's no way in Hades I could... so I just dealt with it and took advantage of the commonality of the Jim Fisher name.
Gail, when we had that chat, so long ago, and you said you wanted to be friends, then stabbed me in the back by publishing things that I said were "off the record" such as my name and such, that's truly when I lost faith in trying to make friends with you. The one thing I was thankful for is that you didn't give the info I said about my son. The only reason I'm confirming my child to be a son NOW is that he's now a grown teenager, almost an adult, and told me that I don't have to hide him in protection anymore: that he's certainly big enough to protect himself. Ya' wanna' know something else there, everybody? His name is Jim Fisher too, though there are legal differences in our names that I did on purpose.
I'm suprised that none of you tried to verify my identity by asking my birthday (which was Tuesday, 8/1). And that's commonly known since Heather and my web designers always used to announce it on the LBC/LBE website, giving me public well wishes. Or by asking my age, which I turned 38 (but still am thrilled because I continue to get carded when I buy my cigarettes, though they say it's because of the long hair... NO FOOLIN').
Ya' know... all I ever wanted was friendship with you guys. A few times, I thought I had it, for a few, fleeting moments, because of the little things: like when we were all posting about the first X-Men movie and you guys were talking about Halle Berry's Storm, which my response was that she kinda' hit the accent than ran... and you guys said that remark was almost funny. But, I've had the rug swept out from under me so many times, I seriously lost faith in the concept. This time, I genuinely feel that the friendship possibility is REALLY there, especially with Mac's actions of removing his J-Bolt story on his Rantman page. THAT floored me and really showed me that he, the guy who showed he hated me the most (no matter how much he said/says to the contrary), really is sincere about this. I just ask that if he, and everybody else who has done so, takes down their offensive-in-appearance posts on IMDb, I'll do the same about the ones directed at them. Then, when all those are gone, I'll remove any general "Basher" posts, in all. Then, we can all pretend that this crap never happened to begin with.
I even figured that you guys doubted me because I'm being a bit more candid with my language on here. Here's why I'm doing so: I've always been used to talking/writing formally, as J-Bolt, which I won't use anything that I don't think is appropriate for kids to read... even on here. But, it took all these years to finally figure out that, even as J-Bolt, on THIS forum, I need to be myself and have normal conversation. Mac has heard me somewhat go off with the language when he called me in Pahrump, last year. When I get pissed off, and feel threatened (which I felt he was stalking me by calling me without invitation, and my office calls were forwarded to my home phone) I end up starting to sound like a New York Mafia dude or something and talk like Robert DeNiro or something like that, as Mac got to hear then. And how can you talk like the great DeNiro without cussing... right? Anyway, I decided to be more of myself and stop acting like I've got a spotlight on me, when I'm talking with only you guys. In real life, I swear quite a bit... Hell, I even have a tendancy to create my own cuss words. But, as J-Bolt, I keep the cussing quelled.
If our public chat ends up having people involved that I don't know who they are, I'll probably keep my language at a minimum so that I sound like the 'on-stage' J-Bolt, who tells the truth, but does so in the more 'wholesome' type of way.
So, yeah, you know J-Bolt and Jim Fisher are one and the same, as you've let the rest of the World know it... so how can I refute the evidence of it from the Library Of Congress? I'm surprised that you guys didn't keep up on the LBE site enough to know that the moment I saw you, Gail, got the evidence, I quickly had it put into the LBE News page, so that it looked like I wanted to expose it before you... so that you couldn't call me a liar again. The truth is that I didn't want to lie about it, and did my best not to by dancing around the truth. But, when I was backed into a corner, I felt I had to lie to protect that privacy that I'd created so long ago. So, now the proof is out there. If I dispute it, I'd be making enemies out of the LoC, who likes me a lot... and I WON'T do that. Besides that, you would have succeeded in showing me to be a liar if I'd refuted that undeniable proof.
In short, I made the best out of a possible bad situation.
If this will prove to you that I am indeed the one, true J-Bolt, then can we get on with normalcy. If not, I'm looking to see if I still have Mac's phone number handy and waiting for him to let me know when to call so that he can verify it, since he's the only one who has heard my voice in conversation. Everybody here has heard my voice in the recording from my site, but Mac has heard me talk in normal conversation. Ergo, that exposure to me talking, plus you guys knowing that if he tells you I'm the real deal, you can trust him 100%, it's the one, sure way to prove me to be the only Jim "J-Bolt" Fisher.
You guys lemme' know where to go from here. Meanwhile, let's PLEASE get on with normal conversation... eh?
Thanks,
J-:p

By the way, I'm a little surprised that Omar isn't posting much, lately. Is it because we all are making frineds, and he doesn't feel as though he has to defend me? Or has he become so busy that he hasn't been able to log on. There's also another possibility, though: he may not want to be involved with the chat, so he might have stopped posting. Whichever the case, Omar, please get back to it, Bub! This just all means that we can be friends, hopefully.
I will say one thing for sure... Omar DEFINITELY was able to surmise the truths out of most of the inconsistancies whenever he refuted something on here. He ended up getting the same responces as I did, for being so accurate in the true facts.
But, the argument is all behind us now, hopefully, so he won't have to defend me, nor himself, anymore. Let's just talk, now.
Thanks for reading my long rant, yet again.
J-

To be honest, J-bolt, what threw me was the open acknowledgement of being Jim Fisher after years of denying it. I'm not being sarcastic or mean here, perhaps I misunderstood. But did you not say just a bit earlier in this thread that you were Jim J-Bolt Fisher, something you've hotly denied for years?

Gail

EdContradictory

08-04-2006, 01:38 PM

How do I know you're the REAL Ed?

Gail
:eek:

How do I even know I'm the real Ed?

*Breaks out Intro to Philosophy book.*

*Doesn't read fast enough.*

*Disappears.*

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 01:59 PM

I just got off the phone with Mac... and he'll confirm everything, including that I'm NOT J.B. Fisher.
He and I talked for about 20 minutes and, he's at work right now, so he's going to put his words in at his first available opprtunity.
I explained to him why I'm freely admitting to being Jim Fisher, just as I did in my previous post.
Now, as soon as you all hear/read it from him, can you stop referring to me as whatever expletive that comes to mind, so that I can stop referring to you as bashers... and we can all get back to normalcy?
Lemme' know,
J-:D

My cell phone number is in the 626 area code, 497-2O38. I have it with me all the time. Call any time before 10:00 PM. PDT (it's Daylight Savings Time now, Standard Time doesn't kick in for a couple of months yet).

But as I said before, I believe you. Like Gail, I was a little surprised by your sudden admission of your real name, given how zealously you denied it previously, even to the extent of statign it to my attorney friend in your voice-mail to him. But, y'know what? It's your name, and you can call yourself whatever you want.

But while we're on the subject, where does this leave J.B. Fisher? I've checked the Index of Periodicals at the library and searched the archives of a couple of the larger Nevada newspapers, and I can't find any mention of him; no by-lines, no articles, as far as I can tell, your interview is the only thing he's ever written. Are you sticking to your claim that you aren't J.B. Fisher interviewing yourself? It's really not that big a deal either way. I'm not trying to restart an argument here, it just always seemed to me that this was a major reason why you said you weren't Jim Fisher.

Regardless, if you want to call, I'll be happy to verify that you are who you say you are.

sk716

08-04-2006, 02:04 PM

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 02:11 PM

...if we're burying hatchets, why not remove it, as I'll remove anything I've published about the bashers?
BTW... I knew it was you right from the beginning of my becoming suspicious, and I did the whois on it and getting the Wal-Mart address near you, in Arizona.
J-;)

I'm a little stunned and having been sick for the last two days isn't helping, heat exhaustion is a bitch.

If were all gonna bury hatchets and shake hands then it's probably best if J-Bolt is aware that I'm the one that did J-Bolted and I don't apologize for it.

I'm more than willing to let things be and not intentionally antagonize him anymore.

OMAR

08-04-2006, 02:15 PM

Hi, J-Bolt. I'm very glad to see you here, and glad that everybody has decided to have a fresh start. It happened at just the right time for me; I was burned out and discouraged at the way things were going. I'm sorry to say that my own contributions to this thread have been more heated than they might have been on several occasions and I've been feeling kind of bad about that.

While I think I could look at any one of my posts here and defend it in context, overall I've only alienated folks more than I intended to. From what I can see of MacQuarrie and Gail both - in every context except when arguing with me - they seem like genuinely good people. But I really seem to bring out the worst in them and I'd be delusional if I didn't take some of the blame for that. I give Gail credit, as always - I said once a long time ago in this thread that if she ever asked me to leave her forum and not return, I would, no need for her to officially ban me or anything - and I meant it. She never made that call.

Thank you for acknowledging my efforts, in terms of advocating for you based on the information I had available to me at the time. Unfortunately my own tendency to twist the knife ended up compromising my effectiveness so you turned up at just the right time.

I had actually called not only my lawyer but also the public help line for the Los Angeles county small claims court, the other day. When I found myself doing that, I knew that things had gone too far. I've always prided myself on not making it personal, not making any off-board contact, even in email or PM form, but I got so worked up one day a few weeks ago that I spent $15 to express mail a stranger a money order for $28, in the process exposing critical personal information about myself that could now come back to haunt me at any time - and, more importantly, making it "personal" in a way it never had been before. That's my fault, and I apologize to the board for letting it go that far.

One thing's for sure - J-Bolt has captured and held the attention of one hell of a lot of people for quite a few years now. Look back at the first post in this thread - it's a declaration that it was over, that J-Bolt had dropped off the scene. That was more than two years ago. Let's give him credit for sticking with it.

Love the new art J-Bolt. I've been saying for some time that you need to get more - well, anything, pin-up, sequential pages, anything out there to show you're still drawing and creating and in the game. Collaborating on the anthology would certainly represent a great turning point in your public relations and is a great idea.

The big IM conversation you envision sounds like it would be pretty hectic and unorganized; I'd rather see a long-form interview with someone you feel comfortable with and with answers you've had time to consider carefully.

Again, I'm glad to see this thread take a more friendly, conversational tone and I regret my part in letting it become so confrontational and heated.

sk716

08-04-2006, 02:26 PM

MacQuarrie

08-04-2006, 02:32 PM

Yup, i chatted with J-Bolt this afternoon. It's definitely him. I've talked to him before, and I actually have a tape recording of his voice from a message he left on my attorney friend's machine. I can guarantee you that the guy posting here is definitely Jim "J-Bolt" Fisher.

He explained some of the off-web personal reasons behind his using the J-Bolt handle and denying he was Jim Fisher, and they are legitimate concerns that are none of our business, but they are no longer the concern that they were five years ago, so the need to stay behind a pseudonym is not what it once was.

He is maintaining the claim that he isn't also J.B. Fisher and did not interview himself. At this point it's not worth my time to search any further into that, since it's a trivial point anyway. J freely admits that the point of the interview, which was to prove that everything was on the up-and-up with LBC was something of a miscalculation, since bringing up the subject called attention to the question, which nobody had asked at that point.

Anyway, J, there's your confirmation.

A little more of my trademark free advice, which is worth exactly what you pay for it... if you keep the hype to a minimum and keep posting work like the BatMite piece, your reputation here will be entirely different in a very short time.

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 02:36 PM

I didn't dig up any of that information, J-bolt, but I get your point. I'm at twin deadlines so I apologize for my responses being so brief.

Gail

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 02:40 PM

That was my only reservation, and it has been asked and answered, so I'm completely satisfied that it's J-Bolt.

Welcome, J-bolt. For myself, I'm anxious to hear what you have to say without people attacking it. As weird as it all sounds, ALL of us have wanted the film and comics to succeed, no matter what personal enmity might have passed amongst us.

Back to work for me!

Gail

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 02:43 PM

Omar...
Please, join us in the chat, as we're going to create a way that we can do it without it being a messy thing. We'll organize it.
The way I suggest is that we organize an order of each person to take a turn with a question and it won't turn into a question-feeding frenzy.
We REALLY want you there, Omar. And nobody will attack you, anymore than they'll attack me.
Again, please be there. I see that you're online at the same time as me and I'm hoping you'll read this and respond back that you'll join us.
Everybody, please also ask him (NICELY) to be there also, assuring him that it won't be a disaster... PLEASE?
I need to go and get to another birthday party, for me, from my family that wasn't able to get together on Tuesday. I hope that when I get back, I'll see that you'll agree to joining us in this, and that everybody can come to an agreement of the whens, what IM, etc.
Thanks,
J-:D

Hi, J-Bolt. I'm very glad to see you here, and glad that everybody has decided to have a fresh start. It happened at just the right time for me; I was burned out and discouraged at the way things were going. I'm sorry to say that my own contributions to this thread have been more heated than they might have been on several occasions and I've been feeling kind of bad about that.

While I think I could look at any one of my posts here and defend it in context, overall I've only alienated folks more than I intended to. From what I can see of MacQuarrie and Gail both - in every context except when arguing with me - they seem like genuinely good people. But I really seem to bring out the worst in them and I'd be delusional if I didn't take some of the blame for that. I give Gail credit, as always - I said once a long time ago in this thread that if she ever asked me to leave her forum and not return, I would, no need for her to officially ban me or anything - and I meant it. She never made that call.

Thank you for acknowledging my efforts, in terms of advocating for you based on the information I had available to me at the time. Unfortunately my own tendency to twist the knife ended up compromising my effectiveness so you turned up at just the right time.

I had actually called not only my lawyer but also the public help line for the Los Angeles county small claims court, the other day. When I found myself doing that, I knew that things had gone too far. I've always prided myself on not making it personal, not making any off-board contact, even in email or PM form, but I got so worked up one day a few weeks ago that I spent $15 to express mail a stranger a money order for $28, in the process exposing critical personal information about myself that could now come back to haunt me at any time - and, more importantly, making it "personal" in a way it never had been before. That's my fault, and I apologize to the board for letting it go that far.

One thing's for sure - J-Bolt has captured and held the attention of one hell of a lot of people for quite a few years now. Look back at the first post in this thread - it's a declaration that it was over, that J-Bolt had dropped off the scene. That was more than two years ago. Let's give him credit for sticking with it.

Love the new art J-Bolt. I've been saying for some time that you need to get more - well, anything, pin-up, sequential pages, anything out there to show you're still drawing and creating and in the game. Collaborating on the anthology would certainly represent a great turning point in your public relations and is a great idea.

The big IM conversation you envision sounds like it would be pretty hectic and unorganized; I'd rather see a long-form interview with someone you feel comfortable with and with answers you've had time to consider carefully.

Again, I'm glad to see this thread take a more friendly, conversational tone and I regret my part in letting it become so confrontational and heated.

sk716

08-04-2006, 02:53 PM

Tell you what J-Bolt.

As a show of good faith, I'll remodel your website, no charge. It will be professional and secure.

PM me if you're interested in my offer. Several people here can attest to my capabitilty as a web designer.

MacQuarrie

08-04-2006, 02:55 PM

MacQuarrie

08-04-2006, 02:57 PM

But whatever you do with the site, please for the love of god lose the blink tag. Blinking text is an affront to all that is aesthetic and pleasing. It violates the Geneva Convention. If you never ever listen to a single word of advice I give you, please listen to this one. Blinking text = bad. It does more harm to your company, career and professional reputation than all the bashers who ever lived.

JUST SAY NO TO BLINKING TEXT!

Gail Simone

08-04-2006, 04:36 PM

"When I told you my real name in our chat, a long time ago, and you exposed it in posts, against my wishes, I at least had a great excuse to say it wasn't true by claiming that you could've added it into the transcript or such... but, there's no way to weasle out of a legal Government copyright registration.
I've always said that when I'm wrong. In this case though, I'm not wrong by trying to protect my name (especially with the reasons involved which I felt really violated that you knew, yet you still did it), "

None of this is true, J-Bolt. I'm sorry, but someone else revealed your true name to me before you did (someone who knew you from Vegas), and someone else used it in public before I did.

Like the thing about the copyright laws (which I had nothing to do with), I'm afraid you're aiming at the wrong target.

Not a big deal, but I don't want to start with any misunderstandings.

Gail

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 05:04 PM

It's not even important. I just needed for us to establish that I'm the real deal, while waiting to hear it back from Mac.
Anyway, we've got that outta' the way now.
J-;)

"When I told you my real name in our chat, a long time ago, and you exposed it in posts, against my wishes, I at least had a great excuse to say it wasn't true by claiming that you could've added it into the transcript or such... but, there's no way to weasle out of a legal Government copyright registration.
I've always said that when I'm wrong. In this case though, I'm not wrong by trying to protect my name (especially with the reasons involved which I felt really violated that you knew, yet you still did it), "

None of this is true, J-Bolt. I'm sorry, but someone else revealed your true name to me before you did (someone who knew you from Vegas), and someone else used it in public before I did.

Like the thing about the copyright laws (which I had nothing to do with), I'm afraid you're aiming at the wrong target.

Not a big deal, but I don't want to start with any misunderstandings.

Gail

Matt Linton

08-04-2006, 06:04 PM

I've just spent the better part of 3 days reading through this entire thread (190 pages). It's like a novel. A strange and wonderful novel. I haven't checked out J-Bolt's stuff yet, but the drawing he posted a few pages back was quite good. Kind of cool that so far there's a happy ending.

Cam63

08-04-2006, 06:08 PM

Cam63

08-04-2006, 06:13 PM

How do I know you're the REAL Ed?

Gail

If you try to pat him, your hand comes back with teeth marks and your shirt sleeve is torn.

Sabrinaset

08-04-2006, 06:14 PM

Since we're all admitting our sins here ... I was gunna derail this thread too. I'm not sure where it was gunna end, but I will say that springing out of a cake wearing a Black Canary costume was gunna be a part of it.

Cam63

08-04-2006, 06:17 PM

I'm still hardcore but at the moment I'm also lightheaded and a little sick to my stomach. Also, my face feels like it's on fire... I'm not at all myself right now. Maybe tomorrow I'll start "The Bodies in Your Moms Basement"

That sounds like heat exhaustion.

Night Swordsman

08-04-2006, 06:18 PM

Cam63

08-04-2006, 06:18 PM

Cam63

08-04-2006, 06:30 PM

Sabrinaset

08-04-2006, 06:54 PM

Please? PRETTY PLEASE? DERAIL DERAIL DERAIL! :)

The plans have changed. Gilda is gunna be Lady Shiva, and sk716 is Huntress. WhiteRose is Lady Blackhawk, and I'm Black Canary.

Gail is there too. She's Oracle. She's already practicing acting kinda like Professor X though.

GAIL: "To me, my Birds of Prey!"

GILDA: "Yes, Professor Simone!"

WHITEROSE: What's our mission this week?

GAIL: Supercuts has been robbed! Apprehend the Evildoers!

SK716: These criminials will fear my Ferrets of Doom!

BREE: Darnit! I gotta run in my fishnets!

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 08:03 PM

:( >sniffle!< ok... no... >snort!< no... uh... B-L-I-N-K-I-E-E-E-E-E-E-S!!!!:eek:
BWAAAAAAAAAAAA...

>sniffle!<

Tito... get me a tissue... >sob<

This is J- signing out and getting a Xanax to get over the trauma >sigh<:(

But whatever you do with the site, please for the love of god lose the blink tag. Blinking text is an affront to all that is aesthetic and pleasing. It violates the Geneva Convention. If you never ever listen to a single word of advice I give you, please listen to this one. Blinking text = bad. It does more harm to your company, career and professional reputation than all the bashers who ever lived.

JUST SAY NO TO BLINKING TEXT!

J-Bolt

08-04-2006, 08:10 PM

If I might comment, remembering your previous picture... I'd say a BombShell costume would be MUCH better.
[This post was NOT a shamless plug... HONEST!]:rolleyes:

Since we're all admitting our sins here ... I was gunna derail this thread too. I'm not sure where it was gunna end, but I will say that springing out of a cake wearing a Black Canary costume was gunna be a part of it.

Cam63

08-04-2006, 08:17 PM

GAIL: Supercuts has been robbed! Apprehend the Evildoers!

Oh... SuperCUTS !

That's what I thought you said.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-04-2006, 08:28 PM

Oh... SuperCUTS !

That's what I thought you said.

Well....I am missing $ 2 bucks . So if you wanna form a super team to find my missin cash then....ASSEMBLE !

Cam63

08-04-2006, 08:36 PM

Well....I am missing $ 2 bucks . So if you wanna form a super team to find my missin cash then....ASSEMBLE !

I'm sorry, mate.

I lost the assembly instructions.

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 01:16 AM

I'll call in... [OMINOUS music here]... CAPTAIN JOHNSONTM!!!

That's right... CAPTAIN JOHNSONTM! Heroic grandstander of the downtrodden who, one fateful day, took a dose of radioactive Viagra and now fights for freedom, within the doctor-prescribed 4 hour limit! CAPTAIN JOHNSONTM, who wages war against the tyranny of those who have lost $2, in honor of the money he paid for that one little pill by making an online prescription purchase at a Canadian website!
By day, he's a mild-mannered, impotency patient... but, when duty calls, he and his sidekick, Lebian LassTM!!!, spring into action as only the Spandex-Spanking DuoTM!!! can!
Fighting against vile, venomous, villains such as The Green CystTM!!!, The Call GirlTM!!!, Callous CasanovaTM!!! and 900 Number NinaTM!!!, their battle cry of turning their head to cough is heard and they're crime-fighting skills are SECOND TO EVERYBODY!!! [more music here]
LOOK! DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK! IT'S A TURD! IT'S A STAIN! NO... IT'S CAPTAIN JOHNSONTM!!!!!!
Action figures sold separately... thankfully. And watch for the Captain Johnson movie coming soon on the official website www.yeah_right.com.
[fade to black and get the heck off this subject quickly]

Sorry, Guys... I couldn't resist but to put my 2 cents into this. I'll check back later to see if I've had rotten vegetables and eggs thrown at me.
J-:D

Well....I am missing $ 2 bucks . So if you wanna form a super team to find my missin cash then....ASSEMBLE !

Cam63

08-05-2006, 02:40 AM

I got vegies, but they're still fresh.

...well, fresh-ish.

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 03:44 AM

Hey, Guys...
SK and I were chatting for quite a while, earlier today, about working together on the new site, and we have some great ideas to put into the new site, but we need your help. Obviously, she and I hit it off about doing this together, which I'll have my current 3-member web designers go to another department so that she can take it over, and handle the design reigns with me, freeing up my time to do what I need to do: comics and the movie.
I want the site to be as interactive and fun as possible, while staying in the LBE property motif as well as the general comic book genre. I'm not sure what else to get in there, that SK or I can do, but we know that SOMETHING MORE is needed to really make it interactive. You guys know my site, what I have and what SK can do. If there's a suggestion you have, can you either put it here (in response to this post), IM it to me, or better yet... IM it to SK, please?
While we're at it, after SK and I work out the design and get the new site up, I'd like to have a webmaster who is into this concept. Might there be any takers on that who will help me keep the site always current, so that there's never again any downtime due to old content or such?
I really want to make this new site as aesthetically pleasing as possible to everybody, but also make it fun right from the index page entrance. It should be something that nobody else has seen before (along with maybe have things that others have done, but with a new twist to it that nobody has ever thought of before); easy to maneuver around, even for the most Internet-challenged (I've really noticed that sites like DC's have a tendancy to be difficult for a web-novice to navigate, so I've always tried to write HTML scripts that people can get to what they want to see more easily, while looking really good, but it's now old hat); just have more things for people to do... but, first and foremost, it should be something that the moment someone loads up lightningboltentertainment.com, they can't help but to say "WOW!" and continue that word throughout the proceeding pages.
All of you know some of the things I've tried in the past to make it more interactive: the beta games idea, where I was looking for someone who was looking to make a name for him/herself in the video game industry by making a simple one for the site, which they can use in their portfolio... but that didn't pan out as I never had anyone send me any submissions, no matter how much I advertised it.
There was also the idea of putting specialized singles classifieds on the site, which I think was a great idea because how many people do we know that their spouses threaten to leave them if they don't give up on the dream of being a comic professional, and get a "real job," killing a talented artist's dream? Hell, that scenario is even 100 times more common with spouses of men who start a comic book store than for artists/writers. The theory behind that idea is that if 2 people who both love comics and/or want to be involved in the industry can hook up, then you'd have one helluva happy couple from a new singles meeting opportunity, which really is badly needed in our specialized line of work. I know first-hand how tormenting it is when the person I cared for didn't care about what I wanted to do for a living, when I was a struggling artist... and still have always had a helluva time finding a woman who can even really appreciate what I do for a living, beyond the first couple months of the new relationship. And, at that, I'm an avid collector of comic books and related memorabilia, but have always had problems with women being ashamed of what my passion is for it, demanding that I hide the things in my office or some other room so that guests don't see them. Most of them didn't even like having MY OWN work displayed where other people could see it, although it was of course different when the relationship was new. These are stories that we all know, either experienced by ourselves or somebody we know/met. The comic singles idea would remedy that in a nutshell, I truly believe.
I've had other interactive ideas that didn't work for various reasons also, but this is why SK & I could use your help in finding new things that WILL work.
You guys have always tried to help me achieve success with the site, but my foolish, stupid, defensive pride handicapped me in seeing that you guys are just what I've always used for marketing with my company to begin with: you're not just industry professionals (for those who that title applies to), but you're also fans. Well, our new friendship has opened my eyes to what I've been an idiot about for quite a long time. So now I'm asking your help <bowing down and putting a sword in your hands with the blade upon my shoulders, sweating profusely, wondering if you'll knight me or lop my head off at the neck {Hey! I loved that scene in Braveheart!}>. Each and every one of you seriously have something to contribute to me making this site great and successful beyond my wildest imagination (and I'm sure you know that my imagination is not hung like a hamster, if ya' know what I mean). And it's not something that you'll come out of empty-handed, either. I can't think of what else I can offer you in return for this, other than free, signed posters each, a free membership to the Members' portion of the site for as long as our friendship remains bonded, and/or getting anything you want in the LBC store at MY base price (which, mind you, sometimes gets me offers from CafePress to give 5 people, at a time, a $5 discount off of anything in the store, which can end up even taking money off the base price, even though I can't make that purchase for you from my account, but the Members' Store only has a mark-up of a buck or 2, which would make that venture worth your while, by making base price purchases from my own company store), maybe you might want to be at the BombShell movie premiere so that you can be there to see it first, along with me, the cast/crew, etc. as well as be there for the party with all of us afterwards? To say the very least, you'd get additional notoriety on the home page that you personally helped me make the new site possible, right beside my link for my web host. I know that some of you guys say that you'll help me do everything right just for the sake of helping me, but there's a reason I have the reputation for either being someone's best friend or worst enemy: because someone who I treat as my best friend, I treat as family... and so far, you guys have honestly shown me that you seriously want to be my friends. Some still have their doubts/problems with me, and after the past years of our little squabbles (that MUST deserve an award for understatement of a LIFETIME), I don't blame you for that conditioning, but I'm doing everything I can think of to quell those doubts/problems. Please lemme' know if I'm succeeding, failing, or trying too freakin' hard. I'm doing so because those of you who hated me the most and for the longest (or that I felt you did, at least) are proving to me that you really are trying to help... and in some capacity, you always were, though the message was not able to be seen by me, in the past. Now, I'm older, wiser, and I see the light (oh yeah... I need to stop looking at my lamp), so I'm asking that since our bridges have been built (and are still under construction for those few who we're still working on it), can we please turn what was formerly a witch-hunt bashing forum against me into a co-op of talented, visionary individuals to help give us all achieve the notoriety that some of us deserve and others deserve but haven't yet gotten?
I hope that you take this favor I'm asking with the sincerity that is honestly behind it. I look forward to hearing back from ya'.

By the way, I have another offer for all of you, which concerns the site and your talents, that I think you might take some interest in. I'll post it tomorrow.
J-:cool:

TomStillwell

08-05-2006, 05:54 AM

It's good to see everyone all happy and nice in this thread.

J-Bolt, you dream can happen if you're willing to work at it. As a fellow creator I know how important support can be. You'll have mine if you continue along the path of play nice and realize a lot of people were pulling for you...especially the people you called bashers. Mac is about as decent and honest as they come. He's a man to be trusted.

But seriously...paragraphs are your friends. Don't be scared.

OzBat!

08-05-2006, 06:16 AM

I've learned so MUCH this past few pages! Paragraphs are my friend! Whodathunkit!? As long as they don't get into a confrontation with my enemy the blink tag, everything will be fine!

EdContradictory

08-05-2006, 06:17 AM

It's good to see everyone all happy and nice in this thread.

Good and weird.

Gail Simone

08-05-2006, 07:22 AM

Good and weird.

I'm 99.9% sure you're the fake Ed and not the real Ed at all!

Gail

sk716

08-05-2006, 09:58 AM

Okay, I've got the first basic look up and ready for critique if anyone wants to have a look and comment.

http://jbolt.oddduck.net

SUPERECWFAN1

08-05-2006, 10:46 AM

Okay, I've got the first basic look up and ready for critique if anyone wants to have a look and comment.

http://jbolt.oddduck.net

Hmmm I suppose that error message and all isn't the design I hope ? :p

EdContradictory

08-05-2006, 10:47 AM

I'm 99.9% sure you're the fake Ed and not the real Ed at all!

Gail
Of course I am!

*Checks name written in underwear.*

Ed Hanes Contradictory, that's me!

MacQuarrie

08-05-2006, 12:55 PM

Okay, I've got the first basic look up and ready for critique if anyone wants to have a look and comment.

http://jbolt.oddduck.net

Template Error: set_root: /home/sk716/public_html/jbolt/layout/professional is not a directory.
Halted.

MacQuarrie

08-05-2006, 01:01 PM

I want the site to be as interactive and fun as possible, while staying in the LBE property motif as well as the general comic book genre. I'm not sure what else to get in there, that SK or I can do, but we know that SOMETHING MORE is needed to really make it interactive. You guys know my site, what I have and what SK can do. If there's a suggestion you have, can you either put it here (in response to this post), IM it to me, or better yet... IM it to SK, please?
Check it out: http://www.nightskydesign.com/jester/color/color.html

I have the script for this program. It's a simple javascript applet that lets you color a picture online. You could put your coloring pages into it as a fun interactive toy.

sk716

08-05-2006, 01:40 PM

Template Error: set_root: /home/sk716/public_html/jbolt/layout/professional is not a directory.
Halted.

It's working. I had renamed professional for awhile. I haven't changed the default in config.php yet so you'll have to log in and change them in Preferences. The login and password are both admin

sk716

08-05-2006, 01:41 PM

Check it out: http://www.nightskydesign.com/jester/color/color.html

I have the script for this program. It's a simple javascript applet that lets you color a picture online. You could put your coloring pages into it as a fun interactive toy.

Those are cool. I've played with the code on one before. Never had a reason to use it before.

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 02:51 PM

Maybe I should start putting a line of space in between each of my paragraphs... that might help... yeah... that might help... Wapner at 7... yeah.:rolleyes:

It's good to see everyone all happy and nice in this thread.

J-Bolt, you dream can happen if you're willing to work at it. As a fellow creator I know how important support can be. You'll have mine if you continue along the path of play nice and realize a lot of people were pulling for you...especially the people you called bashers. Mac is about as decent and honest as they come. He's a man to be trusted.

But seriously...paragraphs are your friends. Don't be scared.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-05-2006, 02:56 PM

.

But seriously...paragraphs are your friends. Don't be scared.

I'd like you to know....I won a Corrie and became a CBR legend for not using a paragraph my 1st few months here. I shall now return you to your regular scheduled program while I dust the mantle of my 3 Corries. ;)

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 03:02 PM

I like it, Mac...
It would be even cooler if it has gradient shading capabilities. I don't see that on it, but can that be adapted into it, for those who don't have PhotoShop or another good coloring program? Whatever it entails, is it something we can adapt into the coloring pages, SK?
J-:cool:

Check it out: http://www.nightskydesign.com/jester/color/color.html

I have the script for this program. It's a simple javascript applet that lets you color a picture online. You could put your coloring pages into it as a fun interactive toy.

sk716

08-05-2006, 03:07 PM

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 03:11 PM

How do ya' win a Corrie, Super?
Just curious.
J-:confused:

I'd like you to know....I won a Corrie and became a CBR legend for not using a paragraph my 1st few months here. I shall now return you to your regular scheduled program while I dust the mantle of my 3 Corries. ;)

SUPERECWFAN1

08-05-2006, 03:23 PM

How do ya' win a Corrie, Super?
Just curious.
J-:confused:

Ok heres the story...

In 2002/2003 I joined the CBR forums. Most of my real experince computer wise , was spent chatting in Yahoo , ESPN and Wrestleline.com chat rooms. I really had never posted on a message board before. My handle was ECWFAN there since I'm a huge Extreme Championship Wrestling fanatic so I always made sure to keep it.

So I joined here after IGN went to a per pay deal to post on the forums. I had always used " ECW-Fan " as a handle so since it was a comic message board and since it was extremely tacky and caused many to question the awful name , I added " Super " to it lol.

But man I sucked. I was so bad posting I gave people headaches who read my posts. One poster ripped me hard for it. After awhile I learned my way on using message boards ect ect....and I managed to win a Most Improved Corrie a year or 2 later.

It never bothered me winning a Bad Corrie. Because hell...I liked winning even the bad awards.

J-Bolt

08-05-2006, 03:39 PM

It's looking great SK! I like both of them and will get those character heads to ya' ASAP. Tonight I'll send all the logos to ya', too.

Is there a way to sharpen the general design even more... maybe by making the horizontal, thick lines into a shape of a lightning bolt or such, just to make it go even more with the genre?

Anyone else got any ideas on sprucing this great looking design look even better, as well?
J-:cool:

Okay, I've got the first basic look up and ready for critique if anyone wants to have a look and comment.

http://jbolt.oddduck.net

MacQuarrie

08-05-2006, 06:44 PM

Matt Algren

08-05-2006, 07:19 PM

One thing, can you slow down the transitions on the banner a little? It changes too fast to read, and after a little while it gets a little irritating.
I agree with this. Maybe it would be better if it were slowed way down and only cycled once or twice. I'd even shorten the text from "For the most original and exciting characters, titles and comic book stories... / become a part of... / Lightning Bolt Comics Online" to something like "The most exciting comics / Lightning Bolt Comics Online". I'm not even exaggerating, it took me about six or so cycles to copy down what it was saying. People just don't wait that long to get the basic hook of your website.

I'd also get away from the black background/red text. I'm a sucker for a light background, even if it isn't white. Here's a link (http://www.draac.com/colorconvert.html)to an online color convertor that lets you instantly take a look at different background colors.

sk716

08-05-2006, 08:52 PM

Looks great. Depending on what the images in the circle are, I like #1 best, though #2 has its charms as well.

One thing, can you slow down the transitions on the banner a little? It changes too fast to read, and after a little while it gets a little irritating.

Other than that, it looks faboo.

Actually, I was considering just ripping the gif apart and using just the title frame. I think the bubbly look of the words would go nicely with the first layout.

The placeholders are for character headshots to act as site links.

PatrickG

08-05-2006, 09:27 PM

Hey...

I'd like to offer this as a bit of a logo tweak:

http://postthatpic.com/files/75/lbcpreview.jpg

I have it in 300 dpi, big enough for a T-shirt.

If you'd like to have someone reformat your ashcan, maybe reletter it and bring it up a few notches, I'd love to, J-Bolt.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 01:54 PM

We're toying with putting character heads in those circles, which I'm fnihsing up for her, now.

As for the transitions: what's up there is an old animated banner from a previous site. As soon as I finish the character heads, I'm gonna' do a new animated banner head, to put up there, which will be better than any that I've ever had. Until then, that one puts a nice looking item up there. It may go a bit quickly, but I guess I did that based on me being a speed reader (not to mention I already know what it says, so I inadvertantly played into that, on accident).
Trust me, My Friend... I'll get even a better one up there.
Thanks,
J-:cool:

Looks great. Depending on what the images in the circle are, I like #1 best, though #2 has its charms as well.

One thing, can you slow down the transitions on the banner a little? It changes too fast to read, and after a little while it gets a little irritating.

Other than that, it looks faboo.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:09 PM

That's a great idea, with the banner, NT.

As for the colors, I like making it so that it matches the surrounding site's cackgorund and colors. My company colors are ed & black so I always suse them in a cool art deco, dark way. Everybody has a light background. I like standing out amongst the crowd with my own individuality, which my color choice comes in.
My favorite colors always used to be the reb/black combo with eveything but, after my first divorce, I went really dark and black became my favorite color over everything. But, I still love the red/black for my company and J-Bolt outfits, with variations of those colors used (like burgundy, dark greys and the like). Having those colors in the animation makes them blend in with the rest of the site and really make its own statement. Know what I mean?
I understand your asking about lighter bg's, but I hope you'll understand that this is something of my own signature style with the company colors and look.
J-:cool:

I agree with this. Maybe it would be better if it were slowed way down and only cycled once or twice. I'd even shorten the text from "For the most original and exciting characters, titles and comic book stories... / become a part of... / Lightning Bolt Comics Online" to something like "The most exciting comics / Lightning Bolt Comics Online". I'm not even exaggerating, it took me about six or so cycles to copy down what it was saying. People just don't wait that long to get the basic hook of your website.

I'd also get away from the black background/red text. I'm a sucker for a light background, even if it isn't white. Here's a link (http://www.draac.com/colorconvert.html)to an online color convertor that lets you instantly take a look at different background colors.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:14 PM

That's a cool idea, but I'm finishing the first wave of new headshots for just that purpose.
Another banner is going to be done after, which I'll make sure is slowed down more, and I think everybody will like it.
J-:cool:

Actually, I was considering just ripping the gif apart and using just the title frame. I think the bubbly look of the words would go nicely with the first layout.

The placeholders are for character headshots to act as site links.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:21 PM

Pat...
I like your logo tweak, but it doesn't go in with the red/black colors. It looks great, though.
As for the Ashcan, I'll take ya' up on your offer. If you'd like, e-mail me at lboltentertainment@sbcglobal.net and we'll work out the arrangements.
While we're at it, would anyone like to re-work the writing for WLS#0? If so, lemme' know and we'll work that out too.

By the way... I'm going to be posting that other offer I was telling everybody about the day before yesterday. I went to do it yesterday, as I promised, but when I logged into here, it was down for mainenance, so I couldn't, having to wait until today.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

Hey...

I'd like to offer this as a bit of a logo tweak:

http://postthatpic.com/files/75/lbcpreview.jpg

I have it in 300 dpi, big enough for a T-shirt.

If you'd like to have someone reformat your ashcan, maybe reletter it and bring it up a few notches, I'd love to, J-Bolt.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:27 PM

Hey, Guys...
So far, it seems that YIM is the most appreciated chat program to do our big group chat. How is the scheduling for that going, with everybody?

I figured that, while everybody is getting that together, you can get my YIM chat handle in, so that we're ready... and you might have something to ask me in the meantime. My YIM chat handle is J_Bolt_LBE.

Talk with ya' soon,
J-:cool:

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:40 PM

Hey, Guys...
Here's that other offer that I wasn't able to get posted last night, as I'd planned on.

One of the things I want to put in the site is the exclusive online comics content (aside from my regular issues), but that you already know. What you don't know is that I'd like to see about having you guys, who need more exposure of your talents, or that just want to do it for whatever reason, do episodes in the online series. Besides exposure of your work on the site, I can offer you 10% of the GROSS that comes in from new memberships that sign on from the point that your first work appears, as what every artist who does work specifically for the LBE site gets. This is a win-win situation for everybody who wants to be a part of it... if you'll go for it. If you can think of any other way that I can help you benefit from it, please let me know and, if it's within my power, I'll gladly do so.

Either way, this is also something we can all work on together, as each person can do 4 - 6 panels each, in color, and somebody can even do the writing edits, if they want. It's something that I've been working on for a while and I already have a great ongoing storyline plot set up for it, which can last for a while.

When this online series is done, I'm even thinking of having it printed into hard cover, so that it goes from exclusive online content to being a hard print, which can be done on the CafeShops printing and a comic CD Rom, for enyone who wants to buy it that way, even though we'll all get it at the base price. This makes it into something that you can also put into your portfolio for the Comicons or whatever.

Lemme' know what you think,
J-:cool:

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 02:53 PM

I just got next week's Entertainment Weekly and freaked out at this story. I knew that they were MAKING an Aquaman series pilot, but apparently, they finished it without my knowledge. I'm curious as hell about it and will be downloading it this week, as it didn't make the sale.

For those of you who don't get EW, and/or as dumb-founded as I am about this, I scanned the article/picture and attached it to this post.

What's wierd is that this actor will be playing Green Arrow in Smallville this season.
J-:confused:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/Aquaman.jpg

PatrickG

08-06-2006, 04:16 PM

http://postthatpic.com/files/75/lbcpreview2.jpg

Is this better?

I have everything in a format that's easy to edit.

Expect an e-mail from me.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 05:06 PM

That looks great. Thanks for the notion.

I replied back to your e-mail. We need to chat.

J-:cool:

http://postthatpic.com/files/75/lbcpreview2.jpg

Is this better?

I have everything in a format that's easy to edit.

Expect an e-mail from me.

PatrickG

08-06-2006, 05:18 PM

Cool.

I'm on YIM now.

J-Bolt

08-06-2006, 05:23 PM

Then, IM me, Bud...
J_Bolt_LBE is my handle.
J-

Cool.

I'm on YIM now.

Wesley Dodds

08-06-2006, 05:38 PM

J-Bolt,

If you're still out there. I will publish your comics.

No foolin'.

Although we may have to ham up the "J-Boltiness" of the stories. You're a brand, kid!

MacQuarrie

08-06-2006, 09:50 PM

It may go a bit quickly, but I guess I did that based on me being a speed reader (not to mention I already know what it says, so I inadvertantly played into that, on accident).
Whenever I make an animated GIF with text, I always test it by reading it out loud. However long it takes to do that is how long each frame should last.

I also try to follow the "Billboard rule": Six words or less. Billboards are designed to be read at 70 MPH while paying attention to the road. Banner ads are kind of the same thing; you have to pick them up peripherally while paying attention to whatever else it is you were looking for on the page.

Crowley

08-06-2006, 11:37 PM

Hi J-Bolt...

SK is fantastic! She helped put together my site:
www.CrowleyArt.net

your posts seem to indicate a healthier mind behind them and I congratulate you on that... best of luck to you.

P.S. you should come join the CoV/CoH group...

Gail Simone

08-06-2006, 11:48 PM

J-Bolt,

If you're still out there. I will publish your comics.

No foolin'.

Although we may have to ham up the "J-Boltiness" of the stories. You're a brand, kid!

Wow, history in the making!

Cool offer, Wesley!

Gail

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 03:09 AM

Wesley...
That's a very kind offer, but lemme' shoot something at ya':

To publish a comic book series (just using one monthly title in this conversation), you're talking printing of a 40-page, cover-to-cover, full color comic book on 100lb. stock white with a gloss cover costing approximately 26 cents per copy. At just 25,000 copies, that equals out to $6,500. The next issue will have 50,000 copies, equaling about $13,000. Since, I'll keep the circulation of each title at 50,000, unless a demand calls for more, there will be 2 more issues after that, totaling another $26,000. That's a total of $39,000. Now, that's just for one title. Since you're talking publishing most my titles that are to come out first (WLS and BombShell), you're talking a total of $78,000.

Why at least the first 4 monthly issues of each title? Because once the first issue is printed of each title, it takes Diamond Distributors approximately 30 days to evaluate whether they'll distribute the issue and put in in the Premieres magazine for dealers to order. I'm probably even under-estimating that timeline, truth to tell. Once they've started distributing the titles, it takes about 3 months to get back my 40% of the cover from the very first issues released. Hence, I'd need at least the 4 months worth of printing costs to publish the issues.

Now, this doesn't even cover the fact that I'd need monies to cover the salaries of the additional talents needed to get this where it's supposed to be. That, right there, will average about $10,000 per book, totaling $80,000. So far, you're looking at a total needed of $158,000 to publish now.

Now, you also need to add in expenses for advertising, marketing, etc. This would easily take the total needed to run well over $200,000. Just for the sake of figures, let's make it an even $200,000, though... shall we?

So... while your offer is very generous, if indeed it is serious, it would be rather foolish to put forth twice the amount of money that you'd need to, as opposed to getting that, the movie going into full production, and everything else, for only $100,000. Wouldn't you agree?

How would this be possible, you're probably asking? Well, the last thing I've needed to get the film into pre-production is the last $100,000 for the due-diligence fees associated with getting the production capital I've already secured through a top investment firm, plus other salaries, and other ancillaries needed. In turn, from the full-production capital, is also included the monies necessary to publish the comics (as that is what the comics timing goes with perfectly) and everything falls into play much more efficiently, bringing better returns on investment capital.

What would you get out of that type of investment? In the past, I've offered 1 point in the profits of the film, which by standard means 1/2 of 1% of the film's gross after box office take. But, I'm willing to increase the standards, by my own terms to making that 1 point represent 1% of that same gross after box office take. Now, if you're really, truly serious about this so very generous offer, I'll be just as intensely generous by also offering an Associate Producer credit in the film, which gets you more of those points (though, those are at the standard percentage ratio).

What does my counter offer mean to you, in regards to a return? Well... if the whole entire run of the film, video release, etc. only brings in the average lowest gross return of $50,000,000, that would give you back a return of about $500,000 just on your initial investment and another $1,000,000 on your point value as Associate Producer, for a grand total of $1,500,000 return made off a single $100,000 investment, with no work, sweat or anything else required of you.

This is no bull. Quite the contrary, it's the bona fide deal running as standard in the industry, with the exception that I'm offering a bit more than someone else would offer, in the same scenario. These are facts that can be checked out by anyone, through contacts in the industry.

Now, I've previously said that I've got some major National news hitting the airwaves VERY soon, due to someone I'm currently casting in the film, which brings A LOT of attention. Once that is done, I will easily have that investment given to me for this film with very excited offers of a better deal to me. So, if you feel that I'm giving you a line of bs, then forget I even made this counter-offer to you and watch as what I've said comes to pass. This is dependant again on whether you're honestly serious, or yanking my crank. If you're genuine about it, though, you'll want to think about my counter-offer very quickly as I'm not stopping my wheels of progress from turning. This actor could sign on tomorrow, next week or even as late as next month. Whenever he signs on, I've got a strict request to IMMEDIATELY call a very anxious National TV news reporter who will start the interviews. When that occurs, you can all but 100% guarantee that every other National news station/show will follow suit.

Now, depending on the legitimacy and urgency of this offer on the table, on your part, this story will either include that ALL the financing is secured and we're scheduling production now, or that one small investment amount is still needed, which calls will come in from investors who won't waste any time, just based on this very news-worthy actor who has already stated his intent to sign on to the film (though, in the story, he'll already be signed on), so that they can have a piece of the pie he'll bring in by being in the BombShell film.

So, thank you for your very kind offer, but I think you'll agree that my counter-offer is slightly more attractive, if you're really willing to see it through to fruition.

Lemme' know what you decide.
J-

J-Bolt,

If you're still out there. I will publish your comics.

No foolin'.

Although we may have to ham up the "J-Boltiness" of the stories. You're a brand, kid!

PatrickG

08-07-2006, 04:20 AM

Y'Know, J-Bolt...

I like that you've thought through things but I'll almost guarantee you can do this cheaper or at least with less operating capital.

Among other things, 25,000 copies is overprinting considerably.

If you print 10,000 copies you'll be VERY, VERY lucky to sell them in today's market. Spawn occasionally sells around 12,000 on initial orders.

I'm not saying you'll never sell 25k-50k, necessarily, but that's a miracle or something that takes more time and investment. I would be much more conservative with initial print runs and push to sell more on reorder/second-printing.

If you start with two titles, they may not sell. If you start with one, you can build demand for the second one.

Let's estimate $3,000 for a 10k print run. (I'd wait for orders to set the print run if possible but let's say 10k.)

$3,000 x 4 issues = $12,000.

Now... For $7,000 an issue, I can line up a full professional art team -- pencils, inks, letters, colors -- the works. In fact, I could give you dozens of choices for artists, colorists and letterers.

$7,000 x 4 = $28,000

$12,000 + $28,000 = $40,000

$10,000 will net the most luxurious press kit you can get for a comic if you shop smart. We're talking ads in Wizard, trips to the major cons.

Going with what I believe to be the most optimistic scenario (some would say WILDLY optimistic for a new creator-owned book -- even from an established creator), that's $50,000.

Honestly, if you're doing art, we can get this down MUCH cheaper. And if we get more realistic and treat the first miniseries as a PR tool to build up the LBC name, we could get cheaper than that.

A fairly professional comic book can be put out for next to nothing if the artist is the brains behind it.

Oh... And 40 pages? That sounds a bit high. The bigger a comic is, the higher the cover price is and the worse it sells, in general.

I'm willing to work with you whatever you decide but I think you would do better to start smaller.

$50,000 is wildly, WILDLY optimistic as a budget for a 4 issue mini. I'm not sure you could guarantee a return on that with well-known creators and top production quality, considering how often major creators' personal projects wind up bombing.

PatrickG

08-07-2006, 04:33 AM

BTW, spending $50,000, I'd expect to lose at least $10,000 on the first miniseries.

TomStillwell

08-07-2006, 07:12 AM

I totally agree with Patrick. You're setting yourself up for a huge loss with those kinds of numbers.

I don't want to rain on your parade but it's time for a reality check. You want to be a major player in the comic industry and do things big but you haven't done anything to date to warrant that kind of status. You haven't done any of the little steps. You haven't earned your dues. You don't have a positive reputation.

You need to start small and build your way up. You can't build the penthouse without first building the foundation.

You keep making claims about big stuff you're working on, painting yourself as a mover and shaker in Hollywood, and making big money offers on investments.

I'm sorry, I'm not buying it. You wouldn't even have a decent website if not for the generous folks here at CBR. Someone who is connected as you say you are would have. Hell, I have a cool site and I'm just starting off.

Forget all that other stuff. Just focus on getting some good comic work out on a steady basis.

I wish you luck in everything but all I see you doing at the moment is playing Don Quixote, jousting at windmills.

Gail Simone

08-07-2006, 07:49 AM

Some of these numbers seem very questionable to me as well but I think we've been over that, and I'm really just interested in hearing what J-Bolt has to say, so let's try not to get too bogged down in numbers at this point, if that's okay with everyone. I'd rather hear the game plan than dispute the details, if everyone's cool with that. We've disputed already, let's hear the plan.

Gail

TomStillwell

08-07-2006, 08:08 AM

Fair enough, Gail.

Make us believe you. We want to believe you.

EdContradictory

08-07-2006, 08:12 AM

Fair enough, Gail.

Make us believe you. We want to believe you.

http://www.ghostbusters.se/foton/pointing.jpg
"We're ready to believe you!"

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 01:38 PM

Patrick...
Thank you very much, for your thoughts, concern and complimetns. Just know that I did not come up with that circulation print off the cuff or without thoughts of who will buy them.

In Nevada alone, every, single comic book dealer has already sworn to make an order of no less than 10 copies each.

As for the others: all the press and hype I've done on this over over the past who-the-hell-knows how many years makes it where those copies will sell, as every news agency who has done stories on me about it, ever since the first story was done in 1987, are very anxious to do the follow-up on it the MOMENT the comics are in print. They all have said that they want to beat each other to the punch of who gets to do the story first. In other words, I'll be doing interviews from the point that I get the work to the printers to when they hit the newsstands. Then even more as they cover the reader/buyer remarks concerning it.

So, its quite possible that 25,000 just might not be enough. I'm even thinking of making WLS#0 as online exclusive and starting WLS with #1... but that thought is still up in the air. If I get it completely updated, with better dialog and such, what do you guys think?

Anyway, I thank you so much for your input, but it's better to be over the amount that I need than under, really, so it's perfectly logical to take the chance, considering that my hype has made it where a lot of people know about both titles to a great capacity. And both titles need to come out as people are wanting both of them. So, after all these years of careful planning, and the marketing I've already done, I honestly am being quite realistic in what I'm planning for this... seriously.

I'll take you up on who you can connect me with for other talent and press kits. Just remember that I'm vey picky with colorists because I want color artists who can do similar coloring styles as me, as opposed to colorists.

By the way... the 40 pages are for the cover, story, advertisements and everything else entailed with a full comic book, which I've got in the issues. It's actually less than several other publishers' titles, as I've been noticing a trend of going to 50+ pages for a regular issue, which I like a Lot, since that gives people more of what they pay for, with how high the price of comics has gone to. And this isn't a mini. It'll be an ongoing series. I would just need the funds necessary for the first 4 issues until I start getting back the money from the first issues, so that the publishing will pay for itself.

Considering how these comics are so talked about (positively or negatively), I don't think it'll bomb all that much, Bud.

Thanks for your insight. It is appreciated.
J-:cool:

Y'Know, J-Bolt...

I like that you've thought through things but I'll almost guarantee you can do this cheaper or at least with less operating capital.

Among other things, 25,000 copies is overprinting considerably.

If you print 10,000 copies you'll be VERY, VERY lucky to sell them in today's market. Spawn occasionally sells around 12,000 on initial orders.

I'm not saying you'll never sell 25k-50k, necessarily, but that's a miracle or something that takes more time and investment. I would be much more conservative with initial print runs and push to sell more on reorder/second-printing.

If you start with two titles, they may not sell. If you start with one, you can build demand for the second one.

Let's estimate $3,000 for a 10k print run. (I'd wait for orders to set the print run if possible but let's say 10k.)

$3,000 x 4 issues = $12,000.

Now... For $7,000 an issue, I can line up a full professional art team -- pencils, inks, letters, colors -- the works. In fact, I could give you dozens of choices for artists, colorists and letterers.

$7,000 x 4 = $28,000

$12,000 + $28,000 = $40,000

$10,000 will net the most luxurious press kit you can get for a comic if you shop smart. We're talking ads in Wizard, trips to the major cons.

Going with what I believe to be the most optimistic scenario (some would say WILDLY optimistic for a new creator-owned book -- even from an established creator), that's $50,000.

Honestly, if you're doing art, we can get this down MUCH cheaper. And if we get more realistic and treat the first miniseries as a PR tool to build up the LBC name, we could get cheaper than that.

A fairly professional comic book can be put out for next to nothing if the artist is the brains behind it.

Oh... And 40 pages? That sounds a bit high. The bigger a comic is, the higher the cover price is and the worse it sells, in general.

I'm willing to work with you whatever you decide but I think you would do better to start smaller.

$50,000 is wildly, WILDLY optimistic as a budget for a 4 issue mini. I'm not sure you could guarantee a return on that with well-known creators and top production quality, considering how often major creators' personal projects wind up bombing.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-07-2006, 02:00 PM

J-Bolt I have to say this. Yes you've had numerous articles and hype since 1987. But your case is almost a New Guns n Roses case in the making. Its like Chinese Democracy and how the music scene has changed several times since the Use Your Ullusion albums from 1991.

My main fear is your books won't be able to catch up to how the scene has changes comic book wise. Because it has changed. The story telling techniques and all have changed a lot since 1987 and 1999 in that time , J-Bolt.

What books have you read and followed in those times ? Because to know the scene and the changes its been under your gonna need to follow something and how its changed.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 02:00 PM

Thank you, Gail...
My numbers ahve been adjusted a great deal, over time. Some may think that what I'm doing is a "gmable," but I know it's one that'll pay off as all it'll take is some more "hype" when it goes into print. That's how I got the order confirmations before, even so far as [when they were selling comics in almost all their stores] I got a 7-11 contract stating that they'd gladly sell the issues.

So, the game plan is this:
- Get the money to put everything into action and don't hesitate but to do so once that's been achieved.
- Immediately get the paid advertising out for the running ads.
- Immediately use all the press media to publicly announce its publication, including using the interviews about the BombShell movie to do so.
- Make as many personal appearances as possible, with any/all talent involved in the comics attending, at the very least to make up for those who can't be there (such as when I'm on the set and can't make an appearance).
- Continue doing this with all issues so that these comics stay on everybody's lips and make the storyline/art keep the readers coming back, wanting more.
- Do this until it's no longer required as the titles/issues will sell themselves.

Plain and simple, this is the best/only way to go with this and to back up everything I say by continuing it. Whatever work I can't do myself, due to being overly busy with the film and such, make sure I've got other talent who can keep it up with me.

I know this plan seems simplified and whatnot, but it's one that I've researched in marketing and everything else ever since I started all this. It has always worked and, whenever I find something new to add to the plan, or replace something I'm doing, I'll put it in there.

By the way, Gail... I just caught word that you got to write the new Atom with one of my all-time favorite artists, John Byrne, putting his work to it. I'm anxious to get it. I've seen that you're being kept quite busy, even writing JLU episodes. Nice work on all that. I can't wait to keep seeing that and more from ya'.

Thanks again,
J-:cool:

Some of these numbers seem very questionable to me as well but I think we've been over that, and I'm really just interested in hearing what J-Bolt has to say, so let's try not to get too bogged down in numbers at this point, if that's okay with everyone. I'd rather hear the game plan than dispute the details, if everyone's cool with that. We've disputed already, let's hear the plan.

Gail

Dreadstar

08-07-2006, 02:34 PM

...So, its quite possible that 25,000 just might not be enough...

I just wanted to point out here that your run number isn't an "all or nothing" number. You *do* realize that you can do a second or third or fourth run, don't you?

Seriously, 10,000 in today's market is plenty ambitious, especially when you consider that you're not LIMITED to that 10,000.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 02:37 PM

Thanks, Super...
But, that's precisely why I'm thinking of starting print of WLS from issue #1. #0 was meant as a synopsis os stories to come, based on the 3 favorite characters of mine during personal appearances and such, before BombShell came about. #1, and the others, were written with today's storylines in consideration. What people want to read, how'd they do so, and what the artwork should entail, is what I base my stories on. I'm not just the President of a comic publishing company... I'm a client. I read comics constantly; I'm always watching what others do and how the audiences respond to them, as I've said I also do with movies. I incorporate everything I learn into what I create, as a result.

I love how the Civil War series is going and my favorite characters are Batman, from DC, and Thing from Marvel. I'm actually saddened by the new Thing series ending after #8 because I thought that was a great series with all the great aspects of good storyline.

In short, have faith that I'm not writing stories that were old style even 10 years ago. I am writing up-to-date stories with detailed artwork: all of which evolves with the times, and in a way that I appreciate reading them, as well as everybody else.

Thanks,
J-;)

J-Bolt I have to say this. Yes you've had numerous articles and hype since 1987. But your case is almost a New Guns n Roses case in the making. Its like Chinese Democracy and how the music scene has changed several times since the Use Your Ullusion albums from 1991.

My main fear is your books won't be able to catch up to how the scene has changes comic book wise. Because it has changed. The story telling techniques and all have changed a lot since 1987 and 1999 in that time , J-Bolt.

What books have you read and followed in those times ? Because to know the scene and the changes its been under your gonna need to follow something and how its changed.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 02:44 PM

Dreadstar...
Of course I've taken that into account, obviously. But, I do believe that 25,000 is a good number, which I won't be sorry for using. Whether you think so or not, I do know what I'm doing.

But thank you for your observation.
J-;)

I just wanted to point out here that your run number isn't an "all or nothing" number. You *do* realize that you can do a second or third or fourth run, don't you?

Seriously, 10,000 in today's market is plenty ambitious, especially when you consider that you're not LIMITED to that 10,000.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-07-2006, 02:48 PM

Thanks, Super...
But, that's precisely why I'm thinking of starting print of WLS from issue #1. #0 was meant as a synopsis os stories to come, based on the 3 favorite characters of mine during personal appearances and such, before BombShell came about. #1, and the others, were written with today's storylines in consideration. What people want to read, how'd they do so, and what the artwork should entail, is what I base my stories on. I'm not just the President of a comic publishing company... I'm a client. I read comics constantly; I'm always watching what others do and how the audiences respond to them, as I've said I also do with movies. I incorporate everything I learn into what I create, as a result.

I love how the Civil War series is going and my favorite characters are Batman, from DC, and Thing from Marvel. I'm actually saddened by the new Thing series ending after #8 because I thought that was a great series with all the great aspects of good storyline.

In short, have faith that I'm not writing stories that were old style even 10 years ago. I am writing up-to-date stories with detailed artwork: all of which evolves with the times, and in a way that I appreciate reading them, as well as everybody else.

Thanks,
J-;)

Which is pretty good J-Bolt. I enjoy Civil War as well. As a fan I'd recommend Detective Comics and Daredevil as good reads. Daredevil is just a spectatcular read each month and Brubaker is just an awesome writer.

MacQuarrie

08-07-2006, 03:05 PM

Dreadstar...
Of course I've taken that into account, obviously. But, I do believe that 25,000 is a good number, which I won't be sorry for using. Whether you think so or not, I do know what I'm doing.

But thank you for your observation.
J-;)
25,000 is a very good number to start with... if you're planning to get mainstream distribution. Actually, if you're planning to get distributed in magazine outlets, 25k could be a little low.

For Direct Market, it's pie-in-the-sky.

Thing is, if you want to be on the newsstands and magazine racks, it has to look like a magazine. Comics really don't make it in that venue anymore. And you need a healthy ad-count to subsidize production costs and returns. But given those factors, 25k is a perfectly reasonable number. If you can get the distribution. I hope you can.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 03:45 PM

Thank you, Mac...
With getting the mainstream distribution, which the publicity will well assure that possibility, as Diamond wouldn't want to be left out of the loop, if they find out that everybody wants the issue/title, I wanted the first one to be a low number. The reason is that if there is the chance of total sell-out, where it has to go into reprint, that can be used to our advatage as additional press.

I was originally thinking Direct Market, as everybody well knows, but I changed that thought based on the fact that Diamond would assure me the sales I need so that I won't be on pins & needles, awaiting the sales figures without that guarantee.

I use the term "newsstand" as a habit from years of comic books. Comics are still sold at newsstands, so it's just a phrase I like.

I've got a few really good ads for the first issues and others will jump on board, as word spreads even more about the LBC titles. Meanwhile, there's always plenty of filler that can be put in, just as the other publishers do when their ad count isn't as high as they desire.
I think the one thing that helps me, in selling ads, is that I allow for the smaller ads, which DC and Marvel used to, so more advertisers will be likely to go for a small 1/8 page ad costing them just a few bucks as opposed to a $100,000 full-page ad that they just can't afford.
I've also got classic ads in, one of them being Charles Atlas who refuse to advertise in DC because of that Atlas parody they did years ago ending them up in court (as was told to me by Atlas President, J.C. Hogue). According to him, they'll only advertise in 3 publishers' comics: Marvel, Image and Lightning Bolt Comics. I think that's another good mark for me, in the advertising portion.
J-:cool:

25,000 is a very good number to start with... if you're planning to get mainstream distribution. Actually, if you're planning to get distributed in magazine outlets, 25k could be a little low.

For Direct Market, it's pie-in-the-sky.

Thing is, if you want to be on the newsstands and magazine racks, it has to look like a magazine. Comics really don't make it in that venue anymore. And you need a healthy ad-count to subsidize production costs and returns. But given those factors, 25k is a perfectly reasonable number. If you can get the distribution. I hope you can.

PatrickG

08-07-2006, 04:09 PM

Hey, J-Bolt!

I'm still waiting on the e-mail we discussed over YIM!

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 04:31 PM

Patrick...
Sorry about not getting that to ya' last night, as I'd said. I've been working on artwork for the new site, and I also stopped to take a break as my son wanted me to watch a couple of movies he rented last night. Might I say that I finally saw "Inside Man" last night and was quite pleased with the film. It's great to see that Spike Lee can make a film that doesn't have any racial undertones in it for once. BIG thumbs up, from me. And Jodie Foster is still HOT!

Now, back on subject: with my recent posts stating that I'm not sure whether my first When Lightning Strikes printed book should be #0 or just make it #1, I'm at a quandry as to what I should do. If I do #1 first, it would be a waste of time for both you and me to have you work on issue #0, however it would be good to see how you would choose to edit my dialog and maybe co-write it with me, in doing that. Preferably, I'd like to also take Gail up on her earlier offer of helping with this also, whereas she cannot have her name attached to it for now, of course, and, with both of you on it, 2 different view points can coincide with how the story will end up, with you having the only co-writer credit.

If I can get everyone's opinion on what I should do with this (print #0 or #1 first), that'll help me know which one to send you so that we can be taking steps forward instead of spinning wheels in the sand or, worse yet, taking steps backwards. This needs to progress, so I'm sure you'll agree with me that everybody here would have fantastic insight as to what I should do on this dilemma and we'll know where to go from there. In addition, you'll also have the honor to possibly work with the great Gail Simone on it.

Let's have a vote on this, Folks... what should I do? #0 first? Or #1 first? Inquiring minds want to know.
J-:confused:

Hey, J-Bolt!

I'm still waiting on the e-mail we discussed over YIM!

PatrickG

08-07-2006, 04:35 PM

I'm sure that Gail will offer what advice she can... And the best way to get feedback is to do something.

Let's work on the ashcan.

Among other things, if you want to get financing for this, we'll need samples to show people.

Assuming your art style hasn't changed (aside from improving with every drawing you make) I'd like to try polishing up WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES #0 and possibly adding a couple of pages.

TomStillwell

08-07-2006, 04:45 PM

As for the others: all the press and hype I've done on this over over the past who-the-hell-knows how many years makes it where those copies will sell, as every news agency who has done stories on me about it, ever since the first story was done in 1987, are very anxious to do the follow-up on it the MOMENT the comics are in print. They all have said that they want to beat each other to the punch of who gets to do the story first. In other words, I'll be doing interviews from the point that I get the work to the printers to when they hit the newsstands. Then even more as they cover the reader/buyer remarks concerning it.

Anyway, I thank you so much for your input, but it's better to be over the amount that I need than under, really, so it's perfectly logical to take the chance, considering that my hype has made it where a lot of people know about both titles to a great capacity. And both titles need to come out as people are wanting both of them. So, after all these years of careful planning, and the marketing I've already done, I honestly am being quite realistic in what I'm planning for this... seriously.

See, this is the stuff that blows away any credibility you might gain for yourself.

Outside of this thread and a few boards here and there you are otherwise unknown as is any of your unpublished works. You really need to realize this and/or stop deluding yourself. Or I guess trying to delude others.

I hate being the wet blanket. I have a track record for supporting any and all small press publishers and talents. But I can't stand by to watch either a naive creator get soaked or others be deceived by a dishonest creator.

I haven't figured which you are yet. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt at this point.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 05:17 PM

Tom...
I see your point completely and I want to say, right now, that I'm not trying to delude myself or anyone else.

I've taken a measure to show this by trying to call Mac. His voice mail kicked on right now, so I said I'd try back in an hour. Mac knows me, knows what is empty hype and what is not. I want to have a very lengthy conversation with him, explaining everything I've said, in these last few posts, which might seem like a bunch of b.s. Once that's done, I'll ask Mac if he can verify if things I've said are indeed bull or if there's any validity to them, on here.

Please don't think I'm trying to blow smoke up your butt. I'm not, and this is the perfect opportunity to show it, just by talking with Mac in length. I elft in the mssage that if he's unable to talk in great length with me, about this, to let me know, through e-mail, when tonight. I want to do so tonight because I don't want anyone to have any doubts or such for any longer than necessary.

So, please... hold your thoughts that I might be reverting to the "same ol' J-Bolt" until I've had a chance to talk with Mac and you can hear it from him. If I've stated anything that I inadvertently blew outta' proportion, I'll correct myself, humbly and gladly.

Just keep your thoughts open and you'll find out for yourself.

By the way... a while ago, you were tripping out that Marinna's last name is Stillwell. I used that name because it's my niece's married name. We use aspects, in our creations, from our own life, after all.

Thanks,
J-;)

See, this is the stuff that blows away any credibility you might gain for yourself.

Outside of this thread and a few boards here and there you are otherwise unknown as is any of your unpublished works. You really need to realize this and/or stop deluding yourself. Or I guess trying to delude others.

I hate being the wet blanket. I have a track record for supporting any and all small press publishers and talents. But I can't stand by to which either a naive creator get soaked or others be deceived by a dishonest creator.

I haven't figured which you are yet. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt at this point.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 05:42 PM

Patrick...
The reason that I was thinking of doing issue #0 before the Ashcan is because, after thinking about it post-our-conversation, pages from issue #1 is in the Ashcan, so it wouldn't make sense to redo the Ashcan, then redo #0, then have to come back and change the Ashcan again, because those pages would need to be changed there. I did the Ashcan after completing #0, so it would only make sense to do the editing in the same order, since the Ashcan promoted #0... right?

And, to "get financing," something current needs to be done. Albeit the changes to both would make it newer, my style has changed so that it's much more aesthetically pleasing, to say the least, as opposed to when I started issue #0. Speaking of which, my style always evolves as my goal always has been to make my current project even better than my previous. You can see this evolution in my style while reading #0, since that started as a pet project a number of years before I completed it. I actually re-did #1 SEVERAL times until it reached the point that it's at now. I'm finishing the pencils on that now and that's why it would be prime to start with that project so that it'll be fresh to everybody who sees it. And it definitely gives something new to show everybody. This is why I have my choice problem.

As for adding a few more pages to #0, it wouldn't really fit in with what that project entails. But, again, #1 is the best as those extra pages are precisely what I'll be putting into it so that it's a worthwhile story that gives people more of their money's worth.

So anyway, let's make the choice a democracy and get everybody else's opinion in on this, so that we can make it unanimous.

Thanks for understanding, Bud. And thank you for being anxious to take part in this.
J-:cool:

I'm sure that Gail will offer what advice she can... And the best way to get feedback is to do something.

Let's work on the ashcan.

Among other things, if you want to get financing for this, we'll need samples to show people.

Assuming your art style hasn't changed (aside from improving with every drawing you make) I'd like to try polishing up WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES #0 and possibly adding a couple of pages.

sk716

08-07-2006, 05:57 PM

Just a suggestion, but get WLS#0 all polished up and set it up on the site for all to see. Save the members section for the new stuff. Give everyone a chance to see what you're all about. Polishes on the art along with the script would make it virtually a new comic and have a very good chance to get people to want to see more.

TomStillwell

08-07-2006, 06:00 PM

By the way... a while ago, you were tripping out that Marinna's last name is Stillwell.

That was actually a joke. My family were pioneers and my namesake Thomas Stillwell founded/settled a good many places in the USA. There's lots of Stillwells and many are probably related to me.

OzBat!

08-07-2006, 07:51 PM

Have you thought about doing a lower number print run, say 9-10 thousand, then doing the reprints, and using that as a basis for further publicity? I mean, titles in today's comics market that go back for second and third printings usually gather some further acclaim, simply on that basis. That would give you further publicity ammunition. Just a thought.

Papergirl

08-07-2006, 09:52 PM

How about Papergirl doing that little go-out-on-a-date rouse, on the old LBC site forum one time?
Huh? Wha--??

Ermmm... That wasn't me. I'd remember that. Though we did chat quite a bit on either AIM or MSN Messenger. Somewhere, I even still have the Catwoman you drew. And the colored Bombshell. Excellent work, by the way.

~Bev

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 10:04 PM

Well, there's one vote...
I think that's a great suggestion, but that's why I put the Ashcan in the non-paying section. If we're to do that (with everybody else agreeing) I'll add to that suggestion by throwing in to keep WLS0 in the pay section until WLS1 is done. Then, we can move #0 into the free portion and people will want to come see #1 in the pay section, then.
Thanks,
J-:cool:

Just a suggestion, but get WLS#0 all polished up and set it up on the site for all to see. Save the members section for the new stuff. Give everyone a chance to see what you're all about. Polishes on the art along with the script would make it virtually a new comic and have a very good chance to get people to want to see more.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 10:10 PM

I knew it was a joke, Tom...
I couldn't find a better way to verbalize that than to say "tripping out," at that time, to get the conversation.

You probably have a great deal of family in Missouri... don't ya'?
J-:D

That was actually a joke. My family were pioneers and my namesake Thomas Stillwell founded/settled a good many places in the USA. There's lots of Stillwells and many are probably related to me.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 10:17 PM

I thought of that Oz, but like Mac agrees, 25k is a good number and there is a possibility that it'll go into reprint with that run, even.
J-

Have you thought about doing a lower number print run, say 9-10 thousand, then doing the reprints, and using that as a basis for further publicity? I mean, titles in today's comics market that go back for second and third printings usually gather some further acclaim, simply on that basis. That would give you further publicity ammunition. Just a thought.

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 10:28 PM

Thank you, Bev...
You don't remember that little joke you did? I thought it was a classic! it must've been about 5 years or more ago, but you posted on the LBC site forum to go out, just pullin' my leg. I couldn't think of a good come-back so I just said something like "uh... yeah... right."
I hope we'll get to chat again sometime, since the war is over for good, finally.

I don't remember the Catwoman I did. I must've done that one especially for you or something because I have no recollection of it whatsoever.

Thank you so much for your compliments.
J-:p

Huh? Wha--??

Ermmm... That wasn't me. I'd remember that. Though we did chat quite a bit on either AIM or MSN Messenger. Somewhere, I even still have the Catwoman you drew. And the colored Bombshell. Excellent work, by the way.

~Bev

Gail Simone

08-07-2006, 10:34 PM

Huh? Wha--??

Ermmm... That wasn't me. I'd remember that. Though we did chat quite a bit on either AIM or MSN Messenger. Somewhere, I even still have the Catwoman you drew. And the colored Bombshell. Excellent work, by the way.

~Bev

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gail

Sabrinaset

08-07-2006, 10:41 PM

Papergirl, do you want me to draw ... uhm, whoever...for you before I dissapear from CBR? And what the heck does Bombshell look like anyways?

J-Bolt

08-07-2006, 11:01 PM

Bri...
Here's BombShell:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/ColorSm.jpg

J-:cool:

Papergirl, do you want me to draw ... uhm, whoever...for you before I dissapear from CBR? And what the heck does Bombshell look like anyways?

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 01:07 AM

Papergirl, do you want me to draw ... uhm, whoever...for you before I dissapear from CBR? And what the heck does Bombshell look like anyways?
How about Poison Ivy? :D

And what's this about leaving CBR? You better not leave. I'll cry. I swear I will. I haven't even had a chance to sign your boobs!!! :eek:

~Bev, who will reply to others tomorrow, but it's time to pass out and get 3 hours of sleep before work....

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 01:10 AM

dang double-post...

~grumbles and wanders off to bed~

Night, all!

~Bev

Cam63

08-08-2006, 01:14 AM

She double guts ninjas too.

...To be sure, that's why.

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 01:16 AM

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gail
~laughs~ It was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back at the beginning of this whole mess, when we were still trying to figure out if J-Bolt was a hoax or real. Somewhere, on one of the many, many, MANY CDs I burned from my old hard drive, I still have those drawings. Don't ask me WHICH disc, though, that will take me several days to figure out.

Excellent work, as I said above.

~Bev

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 01:20 AM

Since I'm on a roll and apparently too stupid to just go to BED ;) :
Thank you, Bev...
You don't remember that little joke you did? I thought it was a classic! it must've been about 5 years or more ago, but you posted on the LBC site forum to go out, just pullin' my leg. I couldn't think of a good come-back so I just said something like "uh... yeah... right."
I hope we'll get to chat again sometime, since the war is over for good, finally.

I don't remember the Catwoman I did. I must've done that one especially for you or something because I have no recollection of it whatsoever.

Thank you so much for your compliments.
J-:p
~laughs~ I give credit where it is due, J. And I mean it. It was excellent work. The specifics I don't remember, though. I'm an old lady now. ;)

Perhaps that's why I don't remember pulling that particular hoax. I could have sworn it was someone else. Possibly Fred (where's he been, anyway)? I though he pulled something like that. I don't recall ever using a different name on your forums.

And, yes, we'll chat soon. My msn and such is in my profile here. :)

~Bev

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 01:23 AM

She double guts ninjas too.

...To be sure, that's why.
Can't be too careful with those sneaky little ninjabois.

In addition to double-gutting, they get keelhauled AND tied to the mast, as well.

~Bev
YARRRRRR, BABY!!!

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:08 AM

Thanks, Bev...
I did a couple of Poison Ivy's for a couple friends a few years back. Just thought I'd throw that in.
J-:D

~laughs~ It was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back at the beginning of this whole mess, when we were still trying to figure out if J-Bolt was a hoax or real. Somewhere, on one of the many, many, MANY CDs I burned from my old hard drive, I still have those drawings. Don't ask me WHICH disc, though, that will take me several days to figure out.

Excellent work, as I said above.

~Bev

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:21 AM

I just sent the first half dozen character heads up to Shelly so that she can incorporate them into those spots on the site. I figured you guys might want a peek at them too. So, here ya' go...

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/CharacterHeads1.jpg

J-;)

howyadoin

08-08-2006, 03:04 AM

I just sent the first half dozen character heads up to Shelly so that she can incorporate them into those spots on the site. I figured you guys might want a peek at them too. So, here ya' go...If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, I think you'd be better off scanning the lineart as greyscale and not bitmaps. You wouldn't get those jagged edges on the linework then.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-08-2006, 08:24 AM

Well Draco doesn't look as bad as i remember it. Of course he'll never stop being Fat Elvis to me ! :p

YoGo

08-08-2006, 10:58 AM

What the? I get tied up at work and then I come in here and there's....peace??

Where's the sarcasm? The mockery???

What is happening??? AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Sabrinaset

08-08-2006, 11:04 AM

How about Poison Ivy? :D

And what's this about leaving CBR? You better not leave. I'll cry. I swear I will. I haven't even had a chance to sign your boobs!!! :eek:

~Bev, who will reply to others tomorrow, but it's time to pass out and get 3 hours of sleep before work....

My vacation is nearly over. I'm gunna start residency soon, and that means CBR, amomg other things, gets cut waaaay back.

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 12:16 PM

Thank you, Mac...
With getting the mainstream distribution, which the publicity will well assure that possibility, as Diamond wouldn't want to be left out of the loop, if they find out that everybody wants the issue/title, I wanted the first one to be a low number. The reason is that if there is the chance of total sell-out, where it has to go into reprint, that can be used to our advatage as additional press.

I was originally thinking Direct Market, as everybody well knows, but I changed that thought based on the fact that Diamond would assure me the sales I need so that I won't be on pins & needles, awaiting the sales figures without that guarantee.

I use the term "newsstand" as a habit from years of comic books. Comics are still sold at newsstands, so it's just a phrase I like.
Okay, I think I need to define some terms here to avoid confusion.

Direct Market means selling through comics shops, which means beign distributed through Diamond and listed in Previews. It doesn't mean selling directly to comics shops on your own.

Mainstream distribution does not refer to public awareness of the comic. Newsstand and mainstream distribution mean pretty much the same thing, which is being sold in places other than comics shops. Distribution to these outlets (drugstores, 7-11, Wal-Mart, grocery stores, newsstands, etc) is handled by magazine distributors, not by Diamond.

The differences are important. Direct Market (Diamond) is sold on a non-returnable basis; if the comic shop can't sell them, they keep them. Because of that, they are sold to the shops at a deeper discount so the shops can make more profit on each one. Newsstand distribution is doen on a returnable basis; like magazines, if the comics don't sell, the store can tear off the cover and send it back to the distributor for credit toward the next batch. This means that the print-run of a mainstream magazine can be as more than twice the circulation figures. A publisher might print 100,000 copies of their magazine but only sell 40,000 copies and eat the rest.

Other differences: Direct market books are pre-ordered three months in advance and can be printed to fill the orders, where magazines are not. They are also distributed to the comics shops on the basis of the preorders, where magazines are distributed on the basis of how well the distributor thinks they will sell in a given store. (Go to stores in different neighborhoods and look at the magazine racks; you'll see more home-repair and handyman magazines in one place, more glamour and beauty in another, more custom car mags in a third. It's all based on what the distributor thinks will sell based on the economics and demographics of the area.)

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 12:19 PM

I thought of that Oz, but like Mac agrees, 25k is a good number and there is a possibility that it'll go into reprint with that run, even.
J-
I agree it's a good number if you can get distribution outside of comic shops. If you're going only to comics shops, even 10,000 is still a little ambitious.

Dreadstar

08-08-2006, 01:30 PM

I agree it's a good number if you can get distribution outside of comic shops. If you're going only to comics shops, even 10,000 is still a little ambitious.

Precisley what I was saying. 10K is a good start, primarily because getting the mainstream distribution for the larger number isn't a given. Even then, you may wind up eating the majority when the market takes them off display.

I don't know, I'd best just shut up now, I have a weird deja vu vibe about the direction this discussion seems to be going.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:07 PM

You're seeing those jagged edges because I sent the original 300 dpi images in the size I drew them (1 1/2" tall) then scanned and colored them in as such, so that they can be reduced down as needed. This is the way that Sheely needs them so that they can be formatted to fit what she needs. Otherwise, I usually always do them the way you say, when I plan on doing them then shrinking them down after the coloring has taken place, so that there's no sloopy grey pixels surrounding a greyscale. With that, there's no sloppy appearance... rather they're reduced down so that they slightly blur, adding to the reality appearance.
Thanks for the heads-up, though.
J-;)

If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, I think you'd be better off scanning the lineart as greyscale and not bitmaps. You wouldn't get those jagged edges on the linework then.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:16 PM

Just so long as he means somethin' to ya', he'll never... leave the building.

I'm going to add a black background and red haze around each of them, for the site, as requested by Shelly. With the finished item, or as they are, would these be good to add as avatars for this site? If so, go on ahead and do it, letting me know so I can check it out. As I'm doing the LBC Directory pages, there'll be action panels in each one, to make them look even better. You guys might want them to make into avatars also. Just thought I'd mention that. Meanwhile, lemme' know if you guys would like to make these ones into avatars. There's more heads to come, as I'll be doing heads of every one of my characters to date. Just in case there's a use for it, I'm even going to do a J-Bolt head, as that would be good to use as the "About Me' link for the site. It would be fun.
J-:cool:

Well Draco doesn't look as bad as i remember it. Of course he'll never stop being Fat Elvis to me ! :p

Gail Simone

08-08-2006, 02:18 PM

I like the headshots, by the way. Quite nice.

Gail

TomStillwell

08-08-2006, 02:21 PM

But I can't see Wolff's pants!

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:23 PM

Isn't that th' way? Even in the World today... ya' turn your back for a few days, then all of a sudden: PEACE. It's a good thing.

By the way, YoGo, I thought you might find it interesting that I've got a 16 year old character, whose head will be added in Character heads series 4, named Pogo that ya' might might find amusing. Just thought I'd tell ya' about it.

And I'm glad to be able to meet you under GOOD circumstances finally, and forevermore.

J-:cool:

What the? I get tied up at work and then I come in here and there's....peace??

Where's the sarcasm? The mockery???

What is happening??? AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:40 PM

Mac...
It looks like you and I need to talk about this too, when you have the chance. Things keep changing as I'm used to ALL of the outlets going only through Diamond, who has the distribution monopoly... they do still, don't they? The last I checked on everything, concerning this, was last year. Apparently, I need to be looking into this more often. I obviously need someone who is on it constantly and keep things current for me. Are ya' interested in that position, once we're ready for distribution and such? This would be a job of being Distribution Liason... or I'll let you find your own position, doing this for LBC.
Lemme' know,
J-:o

Okay, I think I need to define some terms here to avoid confusion.

Direct Market means selling through comics shops, which means beign distributed through Diamond and listed in Previews. It doesn't mean selling directly to comics shops on your own.

Mainstream distribution does not refer to public awareness of the comic. Newsstand and mainstream distribution mean pretty much the same thing, which is being sold in places other than comics shops. Distribution to these outlets (drugstores, 7-11, Wal-Mart, grocery stores, newsstands, etc) is handled by magazine distributors, not by Diamond.

The differences are important. Direct Market (Diamond) is sold on a non-returnable basis; if the comic shop can't sell them, they keep them. Because of that, they are sold to the shops at a deeper discount so the shops can make more profit on each one. Newsstand distribution is doen on a returnable basis; like magazines, if the comics don't sell, the store can tear off the cover and send it back to the distributor for credit toward the next batch. This means that the print-run of a mainstream magazine can be as more than twice the circulation figures. A publisher might print 100,000 copies of their magazine but only sell 40,000 copies and eat the rest.

Other differences: Direct market books are pre-ordered three months in advance and can be printed to fill the orders, where magazines are not. They are also distributed to the comics shops on the basis of the preorders, where magazines are distributed on the basis of how well the distributor thinks they will sell in a given store. (Go to stores in different neighborhoods and look at the magazine racks; you'll see more home-repair and handyman magazines in one place, more glamour and beauty in another, more custom car mags in a third. It's all based on what the distributor thinks will sell based on the economics and demographics of the area.)

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 02:49 PM

Unless they've changed this also, even Diamond used to give the offer that the publisher can buy unsold copies at a nickel apiece, so that they are all saved, including cover.
Again... we need to talk about this and it's something I could use your help, in a great capacity, because my plate is already uber full.
J-:cool:

Direct Market (Diamond) is sold on a non-returnable basis; if the comic shop can't sell them, they keep them. Because of that, they are sold to the shops at a deeper discount so the shops can make more profit on each one. Newsstand distribution is doen on a returnable basis; like magazines, if the comics don't sell, the store can tear off the cover and send it back to the distributor for credit toward the next batch. This means that the print-run of a mainstream magazine can be as more than twice the circulation figures. A publisher might print 100,000 copies of their magazine but only sell 40,000 copies and eat the rest.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 03:22 PM

Don't worry, DS...
I live by something, which keeps me with endless knowledge. You know what that is? No matter how much a person knows, there's always more to learn. We're learning every day of our lives... including that day we take our last breath. I'm most certainly not saying I know it all and that's that. No... not at all.

I didn't count on Diamond and the general rules of distribution changing just as frequently as the evolution of comics, themselves. I went by what I knew from about a year ago: that Diamond controls EVERYONE who deals in comics. I never thought that things would change from that until their was an upheaval (sp?) against them, just as even Alex Ross has desired. Since I've not heard of such an event, something else has changed how Diamond is doing things.

This is why I'm asking Mac's help in this. I've got someone working for me to control subscriptions, but Mac would be perfect to help me with all distribution processes. I could learn it all myself, and keep much better tabs on it all. But, that would take me away from the primary duties that need me as LBE President. I can't afford that any longer. I've said, long ago, that I need to stop being a lone wolf in running my company and over-seeing what everybody involved with my company does. It stretches me too far and keeps me from achieving more dire duties in a more timely manner. Mac can keep up with all these things, so he's obviously the best choice for me to ask assaying this position. Whether it's in the sense of helping or, as soon as I'm in the position to make it so, as a full-time position (as it's something he can do from wherever he chooses to live/work from).

I want to do whatever it takes to get optimum distribution exposure. That's why the 25k is an important starting figure. Of course the direct mail option will always be offered to everybody who wants it, which will save on the distribution costs, but that distribution is very important. If my publicity were at its peak, like a few years back, it wouldn't be important. But, until that is back to 100%, I need that distribution.

Because of Diamond's monopoly, I've had numerous comic book dealers ask me to do direct ordering through them, so that they can make a much higher profit from the sales of the issues... and I'll still keep with that. But, Diamond and whatever other resources Mac is talking about is also badly needed.

Before Diamond became what they are, I had a National distribution company called West Coast Distributors, who was able to distribute to EVERYBODY. At the time, they were one of the biggest National distributors, only charging publishers 40% of the cover price. Diamond put guys like them out of business. Now, apparently, there's other avenues, which are allowed to operate by Diamond. It would be foolish of me to turn every available opportunity, like that, down. And Mac knows which ones to take and how to go about it.

So, don't worry about the direction this discussion seems to be going because the only place its going is as more of a learning tool for me, current with today's necessities. I ALWAYS want to learn more to make what I do run more effectively, efficiently, and economically.

Who knows... you guys might accidentally learn something from me, at some point. LOL
Thanks for the concern, but it's not necessary.
J-;)

Precisley what I was saying. 10K is a good start, primarily because getting the mainstream distribution for the larger number isn't a given. Even then, you may wind up eating the majority when the market takes them off display.

I don't know, I'd best just shut up now, I have a weird deja vu vibe about the direction this discussion seems to be going.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 03:37 PM

Thank you so much, Gail...
By the way, e-mail me sometime, at lboltentertainment@sbcglobal.net, and I'll send you the BombShell film script. I'd like your input on it, so that you can finally see my writing. I don't like using any of the script-writing programs, as I use the old-school methods of writing the script by hand, just using plain ol' Microsoft Word. I know all the codes and such to write scripts and those programs have a tendency to hinder putting certain things into a script, from my observation of toying with them. For example, Spencer Russell likes using Final Draft 5 to write his scripts, but its a pain-in-the-butt to me. You can tell me, and everybody on here, if you feel the compliments I've been given on the script are warranted.

I'm sorry, everybody, but I can't share the script with everyone on here. I'm asking Gail as one professional screenwriter to another, as I know she won't give it out, without permission, but she can verbalize her opinions on it to anybody interested, in a post.

Thanks again, Gail,
J-:)

I like the headshots, by the way. Quite nice.

Gail

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 03:46 PM

You're thinking the wrong "head" shot, Tom. LOL

Is Wollf your favorite of my characters?

Ya' know... on that subject, even though I know you guys aren't familiar but with a fraction of my characters, who, amongst the ones you DO know, are your favorites?

Just curious,
J-:cool:

But I can't see Wolff's pants!

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 03:57 PM

Mac...
It looks like you and I need to talk about this too, when you have the chance. Things keep changing as I'm used to ALL of the outlets going only through Diamond, who has the distribution monopoly... they do still, don't they? The last I checked on everything, concerning this, was last year. Apparently, I need to be looking into this more often. I obviously need someone who is on it constantly and keep things current for me. Are ya' interested in that position, once we're ready for distribution and such? This would be a job of being Distribution Liason... or I'll let you find your own position, doing this for LBC.
Lemme' know,
J-:o
There are a bunch of magazine distributors out there. Some are national, others regional, and they carry all kinds of publications from TV Guide to Hustler.

Diamond only has a monopoly on comics. That's because (a) they sign publishers to exclusive deals and (b) there are no other national distributors who specialize in comics. All the others were either bought up by them, went under, or were bought up by Marvel and merged into Heroes' World, which then went under during Marvel's brush with bankruptcy.

All of which is to say, if you treat it like a comic, you're dealing with Diamond. If you treat it like a magazine, you have a lot of options, but your investment is larger and your margins slimmer, but your profits can be much higher if you're successful. Direct Market is a lot safer, but a lot more limited on the upper end. There are only so many comic shops out there, and only so many people you can convince to go into one.

Anyway, I appreciate the offer, but I really can't take on any more projects right now. I'm planning to take some classes in the next couple of months that will eat up a lot of my free time, and I have about four comics-related projects of my own in the works, so I can't really consider taking on anything more. Thanks for thinking of me, though.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 04:50 PM

Well... can you at least gimme' some help as to which ones you feel I should involve to get the most out of total distribution?
Maybe down the road, you might be interested in the job position, when there's something solid to offer you with that?
Thanks,
J-:)

There are a bunch of magazine distributors out there. Some are national, others regional, and they carry all kinds of publications from TV Guide to Hustler.

Diamond only has a monopoly on comics. That's because (a) they sign publishers to exclusive deals and (b) there are no other national distributors who specialize in comics. All the others were either bought up by them, went under, or were bought up by Marvel and merged into Heroes' World, which then went under during Marvel's brush with bankruptcy.

All of which is to say, if you treat it like a comic, you're dealing with Diamond. If you treat it like a magazine, you have a lot of options, but your investment is larger and your margins slimmer, but your profits can be much higher if you're successful. Direct Market is a lot safer, but a lot more limited on the upper end. There are only so many comic shops out there, and only so many people you can convince to go into one.

Anyway, I appreciate the offer, but I really can't take on any more projects right now. I'm planning to take some classes in the next couple of months that will eat up a lot of my free time, and I have about four comics-related projects of my own in the works, so I can't really consider taking on anything more. Thanks for thinking of me, though.

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 04:56 PM

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 05:12 PM

I appreciate it, Mac.

I might be able to find a loophole if Diamond wants an exclusive... I'm pretty good at doing stuff like that. The again, if the contacts you're suggesting can also deal the comic book stores, that'll be a moot point.

The comic book stores always used to tell me the way that Diamond got their monopoly is that when they were one fo the forces to help Marvel with their bankruptcy, in the deal was that they were the only exclusive distributor of all Marvel titles. With having that power, they told all the dealers that if they didn't buy only from them, they wouldn't be allowed to carry Marvel titles (mafia tactics... huh?). Naturally, the dealers had to take that extortion deal, which made the other publishers have to go through Diamond, since they couldn't get their titles sold through others, because of the racket Diamond caused shutting out the other distributors.

Ya' know... I always thought that it was illegal to own a monopoly, like Diamond has done. But, their tactics have made a lot of people hate them, such as Alex Ross and many other biggies, who haven't found a way to beat them yet. I'd say that if some other publisher can get to the top of the sales chart, holding that stance, they might be able to wrest that monopoly away from Diamond, using their own tactics, then they could utilyze it to make distribution into an open market again.

Wishful thinking, but maybe in the future, somebody can manage it. That's the best game plan I can think of so that we publishers don't have to deal with this stuff anymore.

Anyway... thanks again.
J-:cool:

I really haven't researched them, but I know they're out there. I'll see if I can scare up more info. Of course Diamond may insist on an exclusive...

SUPERECWFAN1

08-08-2006, 05:26 PM

Whats sadder is Marvel tried taking charge of setting up its own distribution deal in the 1990's with Heroes World. But they sadly fucked up major in it.

I remember when it happened and how Frank Miller would give speeches and look at all the Marvel executives , saying they were ruining the industry. I mean he got right in their faces and told them during shows that they were fucking up and I always thought it was a ballsy move on his part.

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 05:27 PM

It's only an illegal monopoly if they are preventing competitors from entering the field. A monopoly due to a lack of competitors is not illegal.

The whole story is more complicated. If I recall correctly, in teh mid-90s Marvel tried to become a vertically-integrated company encompassing all phases of comics production; they bought Malibu primarily to get hold of its in-house coloring department so they could cut off freelancers, and they bought Heroes' World so they could handle their own distribution. Then HW and Diamond each set off buying up smaller distributors to try to be top dog. When Marvel crashed, Heroes' World went with them, leaving Diamond as the only game in town, a position they have worked hard at keeping.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 06:52 PM

Right... that's one of the things that confused me about the legality of it, according to what all the comic dealers I asked about it told me. Wouldn't it be considered as "preventing competitors from entering the field" if you tell dealers that they only buy from you or they won't be allowed to get the Marvel titles, since you have exclusive rights to them? They told me that is what made the competitors shut down... because they were not allowed to compete. Nobody would be allowed to sell Marvel if they do business with any other National distributor.

That's what has pissed off everybody involved and makes me wonder how they got away with it.

This information is from the comic book dealers, themselves... not from the comic news magazines or such who could easily be swayed into giving a more innocent version of the story. Know what I mean?

Anyway, I'm just curious. Obviously, there's nothing that can be done about it, at this point.
J-:confused:

It's only an illegal monopoly if they are preventing competitors from entering the field. A monopoly due to a lack of competitors is not illegal.

The whole story is more complicated. If I recall correctly, in teh mid-90s Marvel tried to become a vertically-integrated company encompassing all phases of comics production; they bought Malibu primarily to get hold of its in-house coloring department so they could cut off freelancers, and they bought Heroes' World so they could handle their own distribution. Then HW and Diamond each set off buying up smaller distributors to try to be top dog. When Marvel crashed, Heroes' World went with them, leaving Diamond as the only game in town, a position they have worked hard at keeping.

Wesley Dodds

08-08-2006, 07:35 PM

J-Bolt,

Well, I wasn't serious, but... hey, why not? My life's been a bit boring lately.

No promises, of course, but if you still need a publisher by 2007 (when my current commitments expire) I'll do a feasibility study and get back to you with our options. But I'll be frank, you may need to offset part of the publishing costs.

My advice to you is to start a web comic so you can get some feedback on your work and to think seriously about making an ashcan.

MacQuarrie

08-08-2006, 08:36 PM

Right... that's one of the things that confused me about the legality of it, according to what all the comic dealers I asked about it told me. Wouldn't it be considered as "preventing competitors from entering the field" if you tell dealers that they only buy from you or they won't be allowed to get the Marvel titles, since you have exclusive rights to them? They told me that is what made the competitors shut down... because they were not allowed to compete. Nobody would be allowed to sell Marvel if they do business with any other National distributor.
I thought it was more the other way; they signed the publishers to exclusive deals, so that nobody can buy Marvel comics from anybody but Diamond, for example. That prevents other distributors from carrying the books that make the most money, but it doesn't obstruct them. I f a distributor had the financial wherewithal to make Marvel a better offer, they could get the exclusive away from Diamond. But realistically that's not about to happen anytime soon unless one of the big magazine distributors decides to enter the comics market, which frankly is too small for most of them to bother with, and they don't want to offer the same terms that Diamond does.

PatrickG

08-08-2006, 08:43 PM

Diamond does make it very difficult to buy DC or Marvel titles from anyone else with their price structure.

You could go to a newstand distributor for Superman or Batman titles, for instance, but that might make it harder to get the best price from Diamond.

As I understand it, there WAS an anti-trust investigation and a lot of industry folks testified that Diamond was not a monopoly because they were scared of Diamond collapsing and taking the industry with it.

YoGo

08-08-2006, 09:03 PM

This is just too weird.

Carlton Donaghe

08-08-2006, 09:15 PM

Hi, I haven't posted down here in the YABS forum for a while... I usually post up in the Marvel and DC forums when I do post here at CBR. Still, I've been following this thread recently, and I just had to make a comment.

J-Bolt is really becoming quite an artist. I really wish he'd post more of his recent art here, because it's nice to look at, and the more I see of it, the more I WANT to see.

I thought his Bat-Mite piece was well done. There was style to it, it had a sense of humor, and the ink-work was quite attractive.

I also really like the heads he just posted for his site. Yes, the lines were a little rugged, but as he said, they'll smooth out when they're reduced in size for the web-site.

You know, a lot of times the art you see posted on web-sites isn't really that great... but J-'s art is really there, man. I would really like to see his work on a story. Can he do automobiles, backgrounds and animals as well? You know, I'd be willing to bet he can.

Anyway, I'm glad to see how things have turned around between J-Bolt and the folks here at YABS. So often, message boards are full of arguments that just really don't mean anything. Some people just want to pick fights, you know? But this is really something to see.

I wish J-Bolt the best, and I hope he can make a go of his work. He's really becoming quite the artist.

[Edited to add a few missing words. Can't do nothing about all the "justs" and "reallys" though, sorry.]

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 10:38 PM

Well, is it too boring to make money more quickly? Lemme' know.

As I said, part of the production costs immediately goes into publishing. How else will I time it so perfectly?

As far as a web comic and Ashcan? Been there, done that... will always continue doing it.

Thanks,
J-:rolleyes:

J-Bolt,

Well, I wasn't serious, but... hey, why not? My life's been a bit boring lately.

No promises, of course, but if you still need a publisher by 2007 (when my current commitments expire) I'll do a feasibility study and get back to you with our options. But I'll be frank, you may need to offset part of the publishing costs.

My advice to you is to start a web comic so you can get some feedback on your work and to think seriously about making an ashcan.

J-Bolt

08-08-2006, 11:50 PM

Carlton...
Thanks for the compliments. Hopefully, you'll be posting on here more.

Since you, and others, want to see more stuff I've done, while doing new items, here's a few old stuff for ya', including sketches, pen doodles and some other pieces. This one is going to be a long post, with all this stuff... so prepare, but hopefully, you'll like these, as they should keep ya' occupied with an idea of some of the stuff I've toyed with, of other publishers' characters:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/BatgirlNtpd.jpg

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/SuprGrls.JPG

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/GreenArrowInk.jpg

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/Spawn.jpg

Sorry if all that was a little over-the-top.
J-

Hi, I haven't posted down here in the YABS forum for a while... I usually post up in the Marvel and DC forums when I do post here at CBR. Still, I've been following this thread recently, and I just had to make a comment.

J-Bolt is really becoming quite an artist. I really wish he'd post more of his recent art here, because it's nice to look at, and the more I see of it, the more I WANT to see.

I thought his Bat-Mite piece was well done. There was style to it, it had a sense of humor, and the ink-work was quite attractive.

I also really like the heads he just posted for his site. Yes, the lines were a little rugged, but as he said, they'll smooth out when they're reduced in size for the web-site.

You know, a lot of times the art you see posted on web-sites isn't really that great... but J-'s art is really there, man. I would really like to see his work on a story. Can he do automobiles, backgrounds and animals as well? You know, I'd be willing to bet he can.

Anyway, I'm glad to see how things have turned around between J-Bolt and the folks here at YABS. So often, message boards are full of arguments that just really don't mean anything. Some people just want to pick fights, you know? But this is really something to see.

I wish J-Bolt the best, and I hope he can make a go of his work. He's really becoming quite the artist.

[Edited to add a few missing words. Can't do nothing about all the "justs" and "reallys" though, sorry.]

Papergirl

08-08-2006, 11:54 PM

J-Bolt is really becoming quite an artist. I really wish he'd post more of his recent art here, because it's nice to look at, and the more I see of it, the more I WANT to see.
If I can figure out which disc I put them on, I'll send J-Bolt the artwork he sent me 5 years (whoa... has it REALLY been that long?!) ago. Then, if he's willing to share them, he can post them here for you. It really was great work.

Only thing stopping me from looking NOW is the fact that I have to be to work at 8 am and it is now 1:55 am. Add in the kick boxing classes that I am taking in the evenings, and housework and taking care of 7 cats, a dog a bird and fish, and well... ~Papergirl wanders off to pass out for a few hours~

~Bev

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 12:00 AM

I'm sure Papergirl will like the Poison Ivy. This is the one that I was taling about earlier, which I did for a friend, a few years ago. He wanted her VERY seductive and said that I achieved it up and beyond the call of duty. LOL. You tell me:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/Spiderman.jpg

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/HulkInk.jpg

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/PoisonIvyColor.jpg

J-:D

Cam63

08-09-2006, 12:05 AM

No shit, that's pretty good art.

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 12:15 AM

Thank you very much, Cam...

Hopefully, the pose and such of Ivy doesn't offend anyone. That's what he wanted, so... If it does offend anyone, please accpet my apology and lemme' know, so that I can remove it.

J-:o

No shit, that's pretty good art.

MacQuarrie

08-09-2006, 12:24 AM

*Images deleted due to size...*
Green Arrow, eh?

Now you're in my territory. Just off the top o' my head:

When an archer is at full draw (GA isn't) and aiming right at you, you should not be able to see his right forearm at all; it should be directly behind the arrow. There is a straight line from the tip of the arrow to the elbow of the draw hand.

He should be drawing with at least three fingers on the string. The string is held in the groove of the first knuckle, and the back of the hand should be flat in line with the forearm (no bend at the wrist) from the second knuckle on.

The index finger of his string hand must touch his face somewhere, either on the cheek at the corner of the mouth or at the jawbone somewhere. Olympic-style archers favor putting the hand under the chin so the string touches their nose, while traditional and longbow shooters tend to favor drawing to the cheek. Either way, he needs to anchor in order to sight.

No matter what he does, this shot is going to miss, because (a) his arrow is nocked backwards and (b) it has fallen off the shelf. The arrow should have three feathers: one pointing up at 30 degrees toward the bow, one pointing down at 30 degrees toward the bow, and the third pointing straight out away from the bow at a 90 degree angle to the string. That's the index fletch, and GA's is pointing toward the bow, instead of away. It's going to hit the riser (handle) and go awry. The shelf is the flat spot at the top of the handle, and the arrow is supposed to sit on top of it, up against the bow, not floating out in space like this. So he's going to miss.

But then that's a given, since his arrow is way too long for him. At full draw, there should only be an inch or two of arrow extending past the bow, including the big deadly broadhead.

Though now that I look again, it may be that he hasn't begun to draw the bow. Hard to tell from this angle, but if he's at full draw, the bow should be curving. This bow is completely straight with almost no deflection of the string (at full draw, the upper and lower sections of the bowstring should form about a 90 degree angle). Again, at this angle it's hard to tell.

The drawing itself is nicely done, and to your credit you did put the arrow on the correct side of the bow, unlike damn near everybody who ever draws GA.

Sorry, it's a conditioned reflex.

EDIT: Here, this is what it should look like. Just click through the steps.
http://www.student.utwente.nl/~sagi/artikel/steps/step1.html

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 12:34 AM

LOL. I think it's great that you're a perfectionist, Mac.

I used to be a bit of an archer many years ago, myself, and can pretty much remember it, but I never knew the technical stuff. I just knew how to string and fire a bow to hit a target pretty well.

I dramatized what would be proper for an archer, in the pic and yes, he is drawing back at it.

Thanks for the details, Mac.
J-:p

Green Arrow, eh?

Now you're in my territory. Just off the top o' my head:

When an archer is at full draw (GA isn't) and aiming right at you, you should not be able to see his right forearm at all; it should be directly behind the arrow. There is a straight line from the tip of the arrow to the elbow of the draw hand.

He should be drawing with at least three fingers on the string. The string is held in the groove of the first knuckle, and the back of the hand should be flat in line with the forearm (no bend at the wrist) from the second knuckle on.

The index finger of his string hand must touch his face somewhere, either on the cheek at the corner of the mouth or at the jawbone somewhere. Olympic-style archers favor putting the hand under the chin so the string touches their nose, while traditional and longbow shooters tend to favor drawing to the cheek. Either way, he needs to anchor in order to sight.

No matter what he does, this shot is going to miss, because (a) his arrow is nocked backwards and (b) it has fallen off the shelf. The arrow should have three feathers: one pointing up at 30 degrees toward the bow, one pointing down at 30 degrees toward the bow, and the third pointing straight out away from the bow at a 90 degree angle to the string. That's the index fletch, and GA's is pointing toward the bow, instead of away. It's going to hit the riser (handle) and go awry. The shelf is the flat spot at the top of the handle, and the arrow is supposed to sit on top of it, up against the bow, not floating out in space like this. So he's going to miss.

But then that's a given, since his arrow is way too long for him. At full draw, there should only be an inch or two of arrow extending past the bow, including the big deadly broadhead.

Though now that I look again, it may be that he hasn't begun to draw the bow. Hard to tell from this angle, but if he's at full draw, the bow should be curving. This bow is completely straight with almost no deflection of the string (at full draw, the upper and lower sections of the bowstring should form about a 90 degree angle). Again, at this angle it's hard to tell.

The drawing itself is nicely done, and to your credit you did put the arrow on the correct side of the bow, unlike damn near everybody who ever draws GA.

Sorry, it's a conditioned reflex.

PatrickG

08-09-2006, 12:36 AM

Really nice work, J!

Looking forward to seeing the stuff from WLS #0.

I like your style A LOT... but I'm also curious what it would look like with someone else inking.

The inking you do gives a George Perez flavor to the work whereas the art itself reminds me of John Byrne mixed with some of the early 90s artists... without seeming too dated.

A less detailed inking style might showcase the power of the images in a different way. But I also like what I see here.

Honestly, I DO think 10,000 copies of your first comic may be a stretch but with enough work getting people familiar with your work -- and maybe a few jobs at the mainstream publishers to really get awareness up -- and a bit more progress on your art, you very well could sell books in the 25,000-50,000 range. Granted, those may not be creator owned books but I think the quality is getting there if it's not there already.

Once we get WLS #0 polished up, I'd like to talk to you about approaching Image. Basically, they front the money for publication and charge what's left over plus a flat fee for services like a listing in Diamond's PREVIEWS, at least as I understand it. You don't surrender ANY rights normally.

Basically, they handle marketing and give advice on a portion of the printing-related business decisions.

One major advantage is that retailers will get a better price from Diamond on an Image title than on an LBC title because of Diamond's bulk sales pricing on DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and Image books, at least as I understand it.

Heck. POWERS was selling in the 25,000 copy range for awhile, I think. And even books like INVINCIBLE, which sell less, get a lot more attention than they would through a independent publishing house.

Cam63

08-09-2006, 12:38 AM

Now how about if GA was aiming a rubber band at someone's arse ?

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 01:01 AM

Patrick...
I appreciate your compliments and advice, but I will be publishing my work myself. And I do feel that the run I have planned is a good number, just as Mac does. If there's something I don't know in order to make my plans work, I have friends here who I'm sure will help advise me on how to achieve my goals.

Joh Byrne and George Perez are 2 of my most favorite artists, because they are great detailed artists. When I was finding my own drawing style, I modeled my work after their's, until I did find comfort in my own. And, I'm always evolving with my style, at that. I'll find something else makes me feel better about a piece I'm doing or something of that nature. But, I love the work of the great detailed artists such as Byrne, Perez, Neal Adams, Brett Breeding, HA!, etc.

I also enjoy being able to put as much detail into my work as possible and do so where it will look attractive once reduced down. I honed that skill by drawing as small as possible, while maintaining the same detail and then reducing it to make sure it still looks good.

I use permanent ink drafting pens when doing my ink work so that I can achieve those details, no matter how minute. I always end up drawing faces with my .005 pen, which allows me to draw in every eyelash, eyebrow hair, etc. I find it greatly gratifying to do so.

When Mark and Steph Heike were going to work for me, they ended up re-penciling some of my pages because they didn't want to do that much detail. This obviously was not my wish and asked them to either ink my pencils as they are, embellishing them only to add to it, but not to take away from it. They're great artists, but things didn't work out between us working together... and not because of artistic differences.

If another publisher wants me to do some work for them, on their own properties, I wouldn't have a problem, as long as it's not under exclusive contract. But, I won't have my properties published by anyone except Lightning Bolt Comics. I'm sure you'll understand, as I won't ever budge on that.

Thanks again,
J-:cool:

Really nice work, J!

Looking forward to seeing the stuff from WLS #0.

I like your style A LOT... but I'm also curious what it would look like with someone else inking.

The inking you do gives a George Perez flavor to the work whereas the art itself reminds me of John Byrne mixed with some of the early 90s artists... without seeming too dated.

A less detailed inking style might showcase the power of the images in a different way. But I also like what I see here.

Honestly, I DO think 10,000 copies of your first comic may be a stretch but with enough work getting people familiar with your work -- and maybe a few jobs at the mainstream publishers to really get awareness up -- and a bit more progress on your art, you very well could sell books in the 25,000-50,000 range. Granted, those may not be creator owned books but I think the quality is getting there if it's not there already.

Once we get WLS #0 polished up, I'd like to talk to you about approaching Image. Basically, they front the money for publication and charge what's left over plus a flat fee for services like a listing in Diamond's PREVIEWS, at least as I understand it. You don't surrender ANY rights normally.

Basically, they handle marketing and give advice on a portion of the printing-related business decisions.

One major advantage is that retailers will get a better price from Diamond on an Image title than on an LBC title because of Diamond's bulk sales pricing on DC, Marvel, Dark Horse and Image books, at least as I understand it.

Heck. POWERS was selling in the 25,000 copy range for awhile, I think. And even books like INVINCIBLE, which sell less, get a lot more attention than they would through a independent publishing house.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-09-2006, 09:39 AM

I do like a lot of that art. Enjoyed the Green Arrow pic and Posion Ivy one as well. But I do think PatrickG has a good point. You could more than likely reach a higher readership under the Image banner and they would solve a lot of the headaches for you.

Carlton Donaghe

08-09-2006, 11:28 AM

J-Bolt,

I think your Green Arrow picture is really awesome. I would imagine it's probably much more recent. The coloring on the Poison Ivy is really good... but I notice the bathing suit was added on later-- busted!

These drawings really help to illustrate the great leaps your artwork has made since 1997. You really have to be complemented on the work you have done to improve yourself as time goes by. Steven Grant wrote about this in a column a while back, here on CBR. He used Gil Kane as an example, posting representative examples from different periods in his career. It was amazing to see how he continued to improve over the years. Then he noted that, nowadays, many new artists come out with a particular style and then never advance. It is refreshing to see that you are not like that, that you never got complacent, but continued to perfect your craft.

I'm looking forward to seeing more new work from you in the future.

Thanks again for posting the art.

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 02:08 PM

Super...
I'm glad you like my art. Thank you for the compliments.

I appreciate Patrick's and your opinion on having Image publish my properties, but I'm not swaying on my decision there. Please don't think of that as me being a jerk or such, but it's just something that I've worked a great deal of my life on and will not have anyone else put it under their label. I have faith that I won't have as great of a problem as you might think, with readership. Again, thank you, though.

On the same note, please don't think I'm being a jerk in this area also, but I don't want to keep beating a dead horse on the subject, so I'm not going to respond to these particular suggestions anymore. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk or anything... I just figured that it would be better to let you know that I'm not going to respond back as opposed to continually saying no everytime, which could make you think I'm being a defensive a-hole, there.

Now, if Image wants me to do work for them, on one of their properties, I'd be more than happy to, just as I would for DC and Marvel. But as for letting Image publish anything of mine, that's one reason that I'm working with Carlton on coming up with a comic story to sell them. We're still firing ideas back and forth, as to what kind of idea would really get him noticed with them and it will have me as a co-creator on a piece that they can pay for. While we've been throwing stuff back & forth, I quickly came up with an idea that I think would be good in the dark genre that Carlton wanted to shoot for (and frankly, I think would do well with Image, since they are known for dark, gritty stories), and I've suggested to him that he share it with you guys to see what you think, so that you guys can give your opinion on whether it would be a good one. His only reservation on it is that he didn't come up with the initial idea, after he suggested the vampire story. I felt the vampire story was well-written, but vampires have been done to death (no pun intended) by EVERYBODY, and right away, I came up with a new, original, horrific plot that I think could do something... especially with Image. He must've felt so too, because he thought that I worked on this concept long before I suggested it to him, but I just came up with it at that moment of responding back to his vampire story. It was a seriously great compliment he gave me by saying that. Maybe you guys could e-mail him, asking to read what I came up with, and see if you think it would be worthy of developing. I say to ask him because this project we're working on, is supposed to be a joint effort, and so you have my approval to read it... but I'd feel more comfortable if you also ask him so that he can say yes also. Then, if you guys like it and agree with me that he should further develop the plot as his own story, help me convice him of that, so that he can truly find it capable of making the creation/writing into an honest partnership.

By the way, if I were to do anything for the other publishers, I'd choose to do this project I just spoke of (or another similar one) for Image. I'd like to do a Bat-Mite series and/or a one-shot Elseworlds Batman story for DC (I'll tell you what I've thought of for that Elseworlds shot after this paragraph). And I'd like to do a Fantastic 4 team-up with other superheroes for Marvel (kinda' like the old team-ups they did with Thing and other heroes, but I think there could be a greater variety of more story possibilities if all the FF, or certain members, were teamed-up with other Marvel characters. If I were to do a Marvel/DC crossover (which I've considered as doing a 4-page submission of this particular plot, if I were to do so... which I might, just in case they'd have a use for me to work with them), I'd do a Batman family/ FF crossover. This isn't because of my preference over those characters, but rather because of the character differences would make a great crossover for them. I even have an idea for a great villain team-up to go against them.

Anyway, what I was saying on the Elesworlds story I'd like to write, I've always thought that if Batman were to ever retire and have a replacement, I don't think Terry McGinnis would do it (even if he is the son of Bruce). Instead, Tim Drake was trained perfectly by Bruce and is a younger carbon copy of him, with his own unique talents to add to the mix. When confronted with a dilemma, Tim would respond the same way that Bruce would. Bruce knowing that Dick has his own identity, even though he frequently works with Batman & Robin. But, I seriously feel that Tim would aspire to grow up being the only true aire to the mantle of the Batman... and deserve it well, even having the possibility of being a better Batman, since his drive is more of sheer desire as opposed to psychosis-induced drive. I'd really enjoy writing that "The Aire Of Batman" one-shot or mini-series. With my admiration of the Batman character/story, I think I could do it justice, with a co-writer who would keep my story legible and prolific as I want.

Any story I'd want to do, I'd want a great co-writer to make sure of the same thing. If I were to do anything for DC or a DC/Marvel crossover, maybe Gail could work it with me, since that would fit in with her exclusive contract with them.

Anyway... sorry I went off on a tangent with the subjects, but now you guys know a little more of what's in my head. If Carlton agrees to showing you guys what I came up with, on the spot then, maybe you guys would have some great feedback and, if you think its worthy, help me to convince him to run with it.

Thanks again... you guys are the greatest.
J-:cool:

I do like a lot of that art. Enjoyed the Green Arrow pic and Posion Ivy one as well. But I do think PatrickG has a good point. You could more than likely reach a higher readership under the Image banner and they would solve a lot of the headaches for you.

MacQuarrie

08-09-2006, 02:22 PM

I appreciate Patrick's and your opinion on having Image publish my properties, but I'm not swaying on my decision there. Please don't think of that as me being a jerk or such, but it's just something that I've worked a great deal of my life on and will not have anyone else put it under their label. I have faith that I won't have as great of a problem as you might think, with readership. Again, thank you, though.
J, I think you're missing their point.

Image is not the same kind of company it was 10 years ago. Nowadays, the bulk of what they publish is creator-owned stuff that formerly would have been "indy". They aren't really a publisher like Marvel or DC, where everything has the House Style imposed on it. There are a ton of different books coming out through Image that all carry their own branding and company name, with the only common factor beign the Image "i" logo in the corner.

It's like the way record companies operate; for example, Madonna puts out her albums (and other people's) on the Maverick label, but Maverick is operates under contract to Warner Records. She could pack up Maverick and take it to any other label at any time, or arrange her own distribution and administration. But Warner does all the tedious work and leaves her to crank out her "music" without having to do all that other stuff. Image is like that.

Look at the Ninja Turtles or Groo. Inependent projects, but each of them have been published under various labels from Archie to Marvel to Dark Horse to whoever. They're creator-owned and the publishing imprint doesn't matter.

You could very reasonably have Lightning Bolt Comics exactly the way you want them, with all the distribution and bulk pricing you need, and an 800-pound gorilla named Image to do the negotiating with Diamond. And if at any time you decide that you're ready to go it alone, or you just don't like that i logo in the corner, you can pack up and leave.

You might want to consider talking to them. I know I would.

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 02:23 PM

Guys (and everybody else who would have 2 cents to put in on this)...
I have an idea... since you want, so much, for me to have some of my property to be published by Image (and why limit ourselves to just them), here's my suggestion:

For Image, I believe I have something thought of, which I think they'd like. If Carlton doesn't want to have anything to do with it, even after you guys suggest to do so to him, then, I'll post the idea here and see what you guys think. If you think it's good to go with, I'll develop it and ask you guys guide me on how to get it to the proper channels. If you don't think the idea is worthy, gimme' a general idea of what kinda' story/character you think they'd want and I'll come up with some concepts and see if you guys can judge to see what I should further develop. If I'm close, but not quite there, on a particular subject, lemme' know what you think is needed.

With DC & Marvel, if you think I should sell something to them, lemme' know the same thing, as far as what you think they'd want at this time, since their tastes change quite frequently. At the same time, if you think it would be a good idea, I'll even do that Batman Family/FF crossover 4-pager to add to that idea submission, to show them what I do with their existing properties.

Either way you think I should go, wanting me to go with at least Image, it'll be something of mine, that I'd be willing to part with, as long as I always get the creator credit, including if/when other artists and writers take it over.

I'm hoping that if I do something like that, you guys will help guide me with everything possible to make it work.

You guys lemme' know what you think about that idea, as I think it would easily solve the dilemma of the opinion about me publishing my work through them.

Hope this idea works for ya'.
J-;)

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 02:36 PM

Carlton...
Thank you for the compliments and I'm glad that you got to see more of my work, over the past few years.

Yes, you're right... the swim suit was edited in for anyone who wanted to see it. As I said, the person who wanted me to do it for him wanted EROTIC, and stated that I definitely achieved that with Ivy. But, to show it to others, I had to PhotoShop paint the swimsuit in so that nobody would be staring at Invys... er... flower... is ya' know what I mean. He paid me very well for that piece also. LOL. I did it with pen/ink then colored it in my colored pencil style.

I always live through evolving my work, endlessly desiring to make sure that my current piece is better than the last. So, I'm always trying to make sure that I'm doing even better than my piece before. I end up having to watch myself, though because this tends to lead to me OVER-detailing something. So, I cut back in cases like that, if they're going to be colored. If it's just a black & white pen/ink piece, shown at original size, I'll let myself cut loose with the details, so that the line art can compensate for being BW.

Thanks again,
J-:)

J-Bolt,

I think your Green Arrow picture is really awesome. I would imagine it's probably much more recent. The coloring on the Poison Ivy is really good... but I notice the bathing suit was added on later-- busted!

These drawings really help to illustrate the great leaps your artwork has made since 1997. You really have to be complemented on the work you have done to improve yourself as time goes by. Steven Grant wrote about this in a column a while back, here on CBR. He used Gil Kane as an example, posting representative examples from different periods in his career. It was amazing to see how he continued to improve over the years. Then he noted that, nowadays, many new artists come out with a particular style and then never advance. It is refreshing to see that you are not like that, that you never got complacent, but continued to perfect your craft.

I'm looking forward to seeing more new work from you in the future.

Thanks again for posting the art.

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 02:45 PM

Mac...
I'll tell you what...
You get me the info of everything involved with what you guys are proposing, along with who I should contact with that and names that I can say referred me... and, if I can't get what I need to self-publish it by the end of the year, I'll seriously think about doing it.

Would that work for you guys?

J-

J, I think you're missing their point.

Image is not the same kind of company it was 10 years ago. Nowadays, the bulk of what they publish is creator-owned stuff that formerly would have been "indy". They aren't really a publisher like Marvel or DC, where everything has the House Style imposed on it. There are a ton of different books coming out through Image that all carry their own branding and company name, with the only common factor beign the Image "i" logo in the corner.

It's like the way record companies operate; for example, Madonna puts out her albums (and other people's) on the Maverick label, but Maverick is operates under contract to Warner Records. She could pack up Maverick and take it to any other label at any time, or arrange her own distribution and administration. But Warner does all the tedious work and leaves her to crank out her "music" without having to do all that other stuff. Image is like that.

Look at the Ninja Turtles or Groo. Inependent projects, but each of them have been published under various labels from Archie to Marvel to Dark Horse to whoever. They're creator-owned and the publishing imprint doesn't matter.

You could very reasonably have Lightning Bolt Comics exactly the way you want them, with all the distribution and bulk pricing you need, and an 800-pound gorilla named Image to do the negotiating with Diamond. And if at any time you decide that you're ready to go it alone, or you just don't like that i logo in the corner, you can pack up and leave.

You might want to consider talking to them. I know I would.

TomStillwell

08-09-2006, 02:49 PM

DC Comics does not take submissions. About the only thing they do with unknowns is the DC Talent search for artists...the last one was just held at Wizard World Chicago last week.

Marvel has pretty strict policies on submissions. Writers must submit a letter of intent and if they want to see you work they'll contact you. I believe artists need to submit six or so pages of sequential art, and again, they'll contact you if they want to see more.

Image requires submissions to be pretty detailed, more than a normal pitch, and most come with a creative team already assembled.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-09-2006, 02:55 PM

You may wanna post around. Eric Larson is pretty much the guy to ask the facts on Image and their submissions and all. He frequents the Image board and is a pretty nice guy from when he's posted on things.

Good luck J-Bolt and hey If ya go thru Image it means 9 times outta 10 your more likely for me to read your work at my LCS. :)

TomStillwell

08-09-2006, 02:56 PM

You get me the info of everything involved with what you guys are proposing, along with who I should contact with that and names that I can say referred me... and, if I can't get what I need to self-publish it by the end of the year, I'll seriously think about doing it.

http://www.imagecomics.com/submissions.php

http://www.dccomics.com/about/?action=submissions

http://www.marvel.com/company/index.htm?sub=submissions_current.htm

"He helps those who help themselves."

TCJohnson

08-09-2006, 02:58 PM

A lot of folks are enthusiastic about getting into the funnybook biz and we couldn't be happier about it, so here are our official submission guidelines!

How to Submit to Image Comics

Image Comics only publishes creator-owned material! In other words, we want to publish YOUR comics -- we aren't looking to have you work on books that WE dream up. When you're submitting stuff to us at the home office, we expect it to be something original, not something utilizing existing Image characters. Image Comics accepts only PROPOSALS for new comic series or graphic novels, etc.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT writing (that is plots, scripts, whatever) samples! If you're an established pro, we might be able to find somebody willing to work with you but it would be nearly impossible for us to read through every script that might find its way our direction. DO NOT SEND your script or your plot unaccompanied by art -- it will be discarded, unread.

WE DO ACCEPT inking, pencilling, lettering, or coloring samples. We'll keep them on file and may hook you up with other creators if and when the occasion presents itself. If your art-only submission is not kept on file, you will not get a response.

The books Image publishes are creator owned/creator generated properties and WE DON'T PAY PAGE RATES. It will be up to you to strike a deal with whomever you end up working with and we'll do our best to make it as painless as possible. Image takes a small, flat fee off the books we publish and the rest goes to that comic book's creative team. How that profit is split up is entirely up to the creators involved.

A PROPOSAL should contain the following:
A typewritten cover letter with all contact information (name, e-mail address, address, phone and fax numbers) clearly printed on the TOP of the page. You don't need to ramble on or be flowery or tell us how much you love Image Comics, introduce yourself and get on with it. If you've had published work you could let us know about it (or even include it) but we don't need your resumé.

Presentation is not THAT important -- a pretty binder is not going to make or break a proposal. We don't green light bad projects because they're in a nice binder -- not do we reject a good project because it's not in a nice binder. If printing colored material off of your computer at home looks poor, get it printed elsewhere -- we want to SEE how it might look on a printed page. Make sure it's printed nicely, sure, but don't worry about the packaging -- if the pages look unprofessional, it WON'T get a green light.

A typed, ONE PAGE, synopsis of the overall STORY. We DO NOT want a single-issue synopsis -- we want a synopsis of the ENTIRE series or story arc. As concisely and as succinctly as you are able, TELL US THE STORY, make us interested. Please avoid hyperbole -- avoid questions as plot points ("What will Barney do when confronted with...?"), etc. We are the PUBLISHER, not the audience. TELL US WHAT HAPPENS! Explain why we (or anyone else) would be interested in this series. KEEP IT SHORT! We get thousands of submissions, cut to the chase -- if you can sell us your book with a single paragraph, do it!

You can tell us whether you see it as a full color or a black and white book, a mini or on-going series, a Prestige book or an Original Graphic Novel. There are times, however, when we may have a better idea what might fly so don't get married to any one format but we'd like to know what you have in mind. Tell us what sets it apart from other comics and who the target audience is ("Everyone" is NOT realistic -- there's no single book on the market today that everybody buys).

Send photocopies of fully INKED and LETTERED pages (any size). DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ART! We'd like to see AT LEAST five pages that are fully inked and lettered. If you have MORE than five finished pages, swell! Bring 'em on! Five is the MINIMUM we want to see - not a maximum. We want to READ it. If the lettering sucks we may suggest a different letterer for the final comic book. The important thing here is that we can SEE that you know what you're doing, that you understand where to place copy and how to tell a story.

Color is OPTIONAL. If you have a colorist and can provide color pages, great! This means you CAN send in colored pages you just don't HAVE to (although, if you want a color book, it would be advisable). We DO reserve the right to approve colorists as a poor one can ruin a decent book.

Include a cover mock-up (this lets us know whether or not you understand the market and gives us a good barometer on your design sense). A good logo can be EASILY read from across the room. We DO make people change their logos OFTEN. Don't be fancy or artistic -- be CLEAR. You can send character sketches and or bios, but not in lieu of storytelling pages -- we still need to see five finished pages of sequential storytelling, lettered and inked. DO NOT send script pages -- DO NOT send unlettered pages accompanied by a script and expect us to follow along.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Things often change from proposal to the printed page. If the intended title of your book is awkward or unwieldy, we may suggest changing it. If your logo is an unreadable mess, we may suggest changing it. There are cases where we've designed logos and helped redesign characters and done cover sketches. We WON'T do anything without YOUR approval, of course, but it's not uncommon for us to get pretty involved. Our ultimate goal is to sell your comic book. If you succeed, we succeed. We'll do what we can to help.

The creative team in your pitch is the one we have expect to see actually working on your book. It is NOT okay to pitch a book and say it will be written by Alan Moore and drawn by Joe Madureira and then switch to another creative team. If the artist you pitched with leaves the team, go back to the end of the line and start over. This also means that on all ongoing titles, we need to be made aware of and approve ALL changes in the creative team. It's NOT okay to have six pages in issue #1 drawn by some hotshot while some guy off the street draws the rest of it.

DO NOT hand Image employees submissions at comic book conventions. We have enough stuff to haul around as it is. Your pitch is far MORE likely to get lost, misplaced or discarded if we get it at a show.

BECAUSE WE RECEIVE SUCH A HIGH VOLUME OF SUBMISSIONS, NO PROPOSALS/SUBMISSIONS WILL BE RETURNED. Again, DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ART -- EVER.

Also, if you DO NOT include an e-mail address with your submission, you WILL NOT receive a reply.

DO NOT try to pull a fast one! Don't think that you can get away with saying that you had a book approved at a convention or that a previous publisher gave your book the go ahead. If your book is not up to snuff, you're just making yourself look unprofessional.

Please do not try to "impress" us with all the deals you've lined up or testimonials from your friends or family. We don't care that Stan Lee told you that your stuff looked "neat" when he was cornered in the Men's room -- we are only interested in the comic itself. Your work sells your work -- not praise from others. SHOW US why we should publish your stuff.

Send your submissions to:

Submissions
c/o Image Comics
1942 University Ave.
Suite 305
Berkeley, CA 94704

We are not looking for any specific genre or type of comic book. We are looking for comics that are well written and well drawn, by people who are dedicated and can meet deadlines.

Finally, since Image Comics, Inc. owns no intellectual properties, you can be assured, accepted or not, your property will remain yours.

We wish you the best luck and the greatest success,

Erik Larsen
Publisher
Image Comics, Inc.

http://www.imagecomics.com/submissions.php

Wesley Dodds

08-09-2006, 03:21 PM

J-Bolt,

Comics are about more than just poses.

Have you read Understanding Comics? Well, your "surface", has gotten very good, but we haven't really seen what kind of grasp you have on the mechanics of the medium.

I, for one, would like to see the kind of work you do from a script. How about picking up one of those "Nuff Said" Marvel comics and having a go at turning a page of script into a page of art?

I admire you commitment to this, it's the most important thing you can have if you want to succeed at something.

Carlton Donaghe

08-09-2006, 05:14 PM

I hope he doesn't mind me posting this, but...

Seeing J-Bolt's most recent work has definitely convinced me that we're going to have to do good, old-fashioned costume-wearing super-heroes. And it's all his fault, too. Oh, he might be trying to pull the wool over your eyes with all that "dark, horror" stuff, but don't you believe a minute of it! The minute I saw the drawings he did of his characters' heads, I knew. Seeing his Green Arrow only sealed the deal.

I'm really charged up for seeing what J- can do with a script. And I won't go easy on him, either-- no, his drawings have convinced me he's got talent, and by jing, I'm going to make him use it.

Like I told him-- It's all your fault, J-Bolt. It's all your fault.

P.S. I have a pretty good handle on the Image submission process. I should have no problems following it to the letter.

SUPERECWFAN1

08-09-2006, 05:20 PM

Ya know , If I ever get the right amount of money and all saved up, I'd love to do a modern spin on horror . I have this idea for a great modern horror title that can be silly and fun. Maybe one day J-Bolt if your interested I'll send ya an outline.

J-Bolt

08-09-2006, 07:02 PM

I'd love to take a swing at one with ya', Super.

Meanwhile, I've got an idea for everybody, who wants me to publish any of my properties with Image.

Carlton has said that he doesn't want to do the dark character/story plot I created, so I'm going to ask you guys' opinion of it, with the e-mail I sent to him, with just the stuff about that character/plot I was talking about. You guys tell me what you think about the concept and we can go from there on what I should do with it. Mind you, this was written just in a quick e-mail, to him, so excuse any problems with vocabulary, etc. I just wrote it as fast, basic conversation.

Now, before you read this, please do not get offended, Ladies, in what I wrote as I wanted to create a dark, horrific concept that would scare the crap out of any man... and even women, which is caricaturistic of real life. Though, who knows the possibility of this being true in 1 or 2 women on the planet? That's what makes this a truly scary concept, by using real descriptions and blowing everything else out of proportion. It makes people scared about their very own life. That's what makes true dark horror... wouldn't you agree? So again, please don't get offended thinking that I'm a woman-hater or something. It's just a made-up storyline plot, created by basic events that scare all men, about their spouses.

Here it is:
If you want to write a dark, horrific story, come up with something that really scares us, while being something we can identify with... Push the envelope by using the same standards as in soap operas, while not breaking the precise rules. Maybe, a woman who kills victims, after sexual interludes, because of a rich ex-boyfriend dumping her for a younger girl, not knowing that the woman he dumped has a history of severe mental illness: schizophrenia, bi-polar/manic depression, multiple personality... even go so far as her having post-partum psychosis, having murdered her children, then husband, feeling that they made her feel ugly, while she was pregnant, and she thought that her husband felt the same way. So now, she over-compensates for that by over-sexing herself and luring victims in with seduction/sex and, once she thinks they're not 100% devoted to her and in awe of the beauty she feels she truly has... she kills them (this usually takes as long as when he looks away from her to light the satisfied cigarette, not having an adoring gaze upon her every available second).
You could even combine both those stories into one... making it even more intense.
We've all seen these type of psychosis in every woman, albeit not to this ultimate of extreme... but, don't we all wonder when a woman goes nuts on us because she asks us if this dress makes her look fat and we hesitate for a moment before giving her the answer she wants, making her go postal on us... what will she do? Is this why we always give her the answer she wants? She could kill us and get a temporary insanity defense in court because of the lame P.M.S. excuse. She could leave us and take our children with her, leaving us powerless because the courts never side on a man anyway. There's so many things she can do if we don't do as she says. A wife is even allowed to charge us with rape if she has a headache that night. These quandaries, in our minds, are what make us afraid... so take it to a new level of dark horror.
This is what I mean by writing a character that has never been done before, because nobody has ever thought of it (or their significant other would never allow them to do so, if they had <grin>), and would give every, single reader (at least the male readers) a shiver down their spine... making them want to know more; want to read the next issue; want to publish this book. This is the kind of unique, dark story that would sell to anyone/everyone. Who do you think could turn a project like this down? It would be the edgiest of dark stories that would make us more afraid than what "Jaws" did for people, fearing to go into a body of water that could even remotely have a shark in it.
Make yourself into the characters: pull out the deepest, darkest recesses of your fears and dreams, on BOTH sides of that coin: the victim and the criminal. Think like both of them and like the CSI's who would investigate such a thing, the cop who would find the crime scene and begin vomiting because of the horrific way he saw the victim murdered; NOBODY should've ever had to suffer such a fate, wondering how long the victim endured before he was finally given the mercy of death's hand.
Put together all this, and you'll be able to commit to a good dark comic book with all the aspects of what makes a good comic book of that genre, without having to have a supernatural, super-powered, etc. character: horror, suspense, mind-tingling story, cutting edge dark art, sex, intrigue, and of course... a hot outfit for the perpetrator to don.
Spawn a story that nobody will ever be able to get out of their head, no matter how much they try.
While we're doing the pages, we would obviously warrant a great cover. I'd recommend letting our YABSer buddies read it, seeing what they think, and seeing if the artists in that group would want to submit a hot cover for it, while I'm drawing the pages. I'll do a layout of what she looks like, a character layout, so that they have reference to go from in what the cover should look like. I'm picturing a cover with this hot woman, in her sexy outfit, but also wearing an apron that says "KISS THE COOK... OR SHE'LL KILL YOU," oven mitts, and carrying a beautifully-garnished serving platter with a man's head on it, holding an apple in his mouth, obviously frightened beyond imagination before his last breath.
I'm hoping that one of them would want to do the cover, so that we'd have yet another name to add to the credibility of our project.

Again... don't get offended, PLEASE, LADIES! I'm just having fun with a concept that nobody has done. Like an overboard version of a Black Widow or something.

Just tell me... would this scare you and make you want to read more? Will you guys be thinking about this tonight, when you're trying to sleep, looking next to you to make sure your significant other is indeed sleeping... or is she waiting for you to fall asleep to do who-knows-what? Is this a comic book project with endless stories that has other commercial possibilities? Does this make you want to hide all the Farrah Fawcett movies from your wife and flush all the matches down the toilet? In short, do you think this would be worthy of a unique story to submit to Image?

I'll be anxious to hear what you all think.
J-:eek:

Ya know , If I ever get the right amount of money and all saved up, I'd love to do a modern spin on horror . I have this idea for a great modern horror title that can be silly and fun. Maybe one day J-Bolt if your interested I'll send ya an outline.