J-Bolt News

[Crowley]

wow... much inproved from poast work...

anatomy's still pretty weak... do you actively take life drawing classes?

that will help it...

[J-Bolt]

LOL... Thanks, Emperor...
Actually, my work has been like this for quite some time. As I've explained to Mac, and everybody else: you're used to seeinf WLS0, which took me over 10 years to put out because it started out as a personal pet project, while I was trying to find my art-style self. I put it away for some years and then brought it back out, finishing it, when I had my style initiated, and knew what I wanted to do with it (hence issue #0).

Those first, poorer quality artwork pages are why I'd really like to just start with #1, for Patrick to edit. That way, nobody will gauge my work by that old work, forgetting that the last pages are a better representation of my current style.

For the record... remember that I used to teach comic book art at the Community College of Southern Nevada. And part of the lessons were in anatomy with drawing, but most of it was me preaching my students about finding their own style and protecting their work. I've always had the ability to draw life-like, but my comic drawing style was still 'under construction' for quite a few years, while I was creating my own signature style.

Thanks for the compliments, EC.
J-;)

wow... much inproved from poast work...

anatomy's still pretty weak... do you actively take life drawing classes?

that will help it...

[J-Bolt]

There hasn't been apost in about 24 hours. This is unusual.
Wha' happened???
J-:eek:

[OMAR]

Yeah, I noticed that too.

[Gail Simone]

It's summer, people are busy frolicking.

Gail

[PatrickG]

I've never licked a 'fro!

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I've never licked a 'fro!


You should try it....the sideburns are tasty.

[Gail Simone]

Bolt says, "Great blazing bags of crap!"

But it's a different Bolt!

Gail

[Cam63]

Frolicking requires work.

From what I've heard, it's a tad too hot to frolick in the northern climes.

[J-Bolt]

Hey, Guys...
Shelly and I have been working hard on the site. I'd love for you to come over and take a look at what we've gotten done so far. She's tutoring me on the new layout and I'm catching on.

I'm going through every, single LBE artwork and uploading them. I'm going to be going through the LBE disks now, to find more. Meanwhile, there's more pics in there, that even you guys haven't seen... like a submission Steve Carr did for a BombShell movie poster. Come check the gallery out so far and see what ya' think.

I successfully put new forum subjects into the new forums, but for some reason, they aren't showing up. As soon as Shelly gets back in town (tonight or tomorrow), I'll be asking about that, so that we can start a chatterbox on there.

Lemme' know what you guys think so far. Shelly has done a GREAT job with this new design and I LOVE IT!!! Let us know what you think of it so far. And be sure to let us know if you have any suggestions to put into it, which we haven't thought of. We could sure use your input and ideas.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

[J-Bolt]

Which Bolt is that?:confused:

Bolt says, "Great blazing bags of crap!"

But it's a different Bolt!

Gail

[J-Bolt]

You should try it....the sideburns are tasty.

I could never, ever taste a fro,
To that I sincerely have to say no.
I don't care if it is in the snow,
Or if it was served by the Alice waitress, Flo.
I wouldn't taste it with my toe,
I wouldn't taste it at a show.
If one comes to me fast or slow,
Out the freakin' window I will go.
The thought of tasting a big, fluffy fro,
Really makes my chunks want to blow.

[Gail Simone]

Which Bolt is that?:confused:


DC's bolt made a brief cameo in the Villains United Crisis Special (to be blunt, he only showed up to get smashed in the head by Solomon GrundY). His appearance was due to his role in Identity Crisis, and had nothing to do with LBE's Bolt at all.

Was just makin' a passing joke, sorry for any confusion. To be honest, I didn't even realize the name similarity at the time I wrote it. DC Bolt's been around a long time and has always been a pretty good nasty villain.

Best,

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I could never, ever taste a fro,
To that I sincerely have to say no.
I don't care if it is in the snow,
Or if it was served by the Alice waitress, Flo.
I wouldn't taste it with my toe,
I wouldn't taste it at a show.
If one comes to me fast or slow,
Out the freakin' window I will go.
The thought of tasting a big, fluffy fro,
Really makes my chunks want to blow.


But what if the fro was made of lobster?

Gail

[J-Bolt]

OH! Now, I know who you're talking about. The first time I saw that Bolt was in a 1986 Blue Devil comic book.

That was actually what broke up the work relationship between mark/Steph Heike and me. The claimed to own the rights to a main character named Bolt with their 1984 copyrighted Bolt, but were upset when I proved that I owned a 1981 copyright of a Bolt main character. They told me that either I give up the rights to my Bolt name or they wouldn't work with me. So, I told 'em b'bye.

They said that they even had contact with DC about their Bolt but nothing ensued from it because they said that DC promised never to try and make their Bolt into a main character with the name on a comic book cover.

J-:cool:

DC's bolt made a brief cameo in the Villains United Crisis Special (to be blunt, he only showed up to get smashed in the head by Solomon GrundY). His appearance was due to his role in Identity Crisis, and had nothing to do with LBE's Bolt at all.

Was just makin' a passing joke, sorry for any confusion. To be honest, I didn't even realize the name similarity at the time I wrote it. DC Bolt's been around a long time and has always been a pretty good nasty villain.

Best,

Gail

[J-Bolt]

I'd be afraid of any lobster with a fro.

But what if the fro was made of lobster?

Gail

[Lester C.]

Jbolt I think you may want to rethink your prices in the product section of your Webpage. You're charging eighteen bucks for a stamp. A STAMP! For that kind of money you can purchase a lifetime of service from one of the Australians.

[Matt Algren]

Jbolt I think you may want to rethink your prices in the product section of your Webpage. You're charging eighteen bucks for a stamp. A STAMP! For that kind of money you can purchase a lifetime of service from one of the Australians.
Well, to be fair, it's 20 STAMPS!

Still, though, that's quite a markup.

And where are these $18 Australians you speak of? Mine always cost at least $32.

[J-Bolt]

LOL. Actually, that price is for a sheet of stamps. The cost is the base price I get charged plus $1 profit for me.

I'm sure you saw that in the description and you're just messing with me.

Thanks for checking it out.
J-:D

Jbolt I think you may want to rethink your prices in the product section of your Webpage. You're charging eighteen bucks for a stamp. A STAMP! For that kind of money you can purchase a lifetime of service from one of the Australians.

[Gail Simone]

I like those big A STAMP letters.

Gail

[SUPERECWFAN1]

A STAMP !!!




A STAMP DAMN IT!!

[J-Bolt]

Somebody went to the William Shatner school of drama, I see.

A STAMP !!!




A STAMP DAMN IT!!

[Lester C.]

Is this you?

http://imdb.com/name/nm0093335/bio

[Gail Simone]

Well, I've been looking at the site, and I must say, it looks MUCH better, congrats to SK and J-bolt. It's much more readable and entertaining, I think.

I ALSO have to say that I think your artwork has grown considerably, J.

If the offer is still good to send the script, please send it to gailcbr@yahoo.com, okay?

But things are definitely looking up at the lbe site!

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Yep. It just looks like it needs some updating badly.
J-

Is this you?

http://imdb.com/name/nm0093335/bio

[Gail Simone]

Yep, this is more like it...actual stuff to see and enjoy. Definitely a step in the right direction.

I like the first two images in the character art gallery in particular.

Hey, if you don't mind me asking, J, how DID you meet Steve Carr, and why has he seemingly dropped out of the industry? He seems really, really talented!

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Thank you very much, Gail...

But again, my artwork is the same as it has been for quite a while. You must still be thinking of the artwork in the first part of WLS#0, which doesn't reflect my style, as it has been for the past number of years. That first part was done a LOOOOOOOONG time ago, when I was still perfecting my own style. You just haven't seen more of my work, and keep thinking back to that first part of WLS#0. I'm not being defensive or anything... I'm just saying that my artwork 'grew' to what it is years ago.

I'll get the script to you later on.

Thanks again,
J-

Well, I've been looking at the site, and I must say, it looks MUCH better, congrats to SK and J-bolt. It's much more readable and entertaining, I think.

I ALSO have to say that I think your artwork has grown considerably, J.

If the offer is still good to send the script, please send it to gailcbr@yahoo.com, okay?

But things are definitely looking up at the lbe site!

Gail

[Gail Simone]

"BASHERS NO MORE!
Sunday, August 13 2006 @ 08:15 PM MST
Contributed by: J-Bolt
Views: 0
On August 2nd, 2006, I received a belated birthday present that I've been asking for during a span of over six years... PEACE.

The members of the 'You'll All Be Sorry' (YABS) and I began to finally sit back and talk civil, when I agreed to an offer they made to include me in a group effort of creating comic pages and make it available at the next Comicon. This most recent development came about in their "J-Bolt News" string of posts. Their notice was caught when I announced on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website that I wanted for us all to have a sit down chat, using Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM), so that any and all pertinent questions can be answered directly from me. This was the start of a long-awaited friendship, which I've worked for all this time. Before this relationship became real, both sides involved of course scrutinized it, but earnest offers on both sides prevailed to remove the doubts from all of us, over a short span.

As everybody who is familiar with the companies and projects of Lightning Bolt Entertainment knows, the YABSers and I have been at 'war' for over six years. Occasionally, I asked them to end this silly war, in attempts to be friends with what would be my greatest critics. This war has consumed the time, efforts, and costs all in many other various ways, of those involved. During the past year or so, I decided to give up on trying to make friends with them and even refused to watch over their posts against me, with exception of the IMDb posts. For this past, awful time, with them, they were given the title of "bashers," along with other titles, as they'd given me several choice names as well.

The war began joined with these members, and others, also on the Warren Ellis forum, but I haven't looked into that one since the YABS forums became my prominent opposition. Hence, I don't know what has transpired on those particular forums, since that time, but what was important to me was to mend the fences with the most involved soldiers of this war. Relief is such a small word that describes what I feel for our long-awaited 'cease fire' and, in the words of the immortal Bullwinkle, "now the healing can begin."

Though I kept my real name concealed, ever since the news of my company first hit the airwaves in 1987, Gail Simone was even able to find legal evidence of it, proving and announcing me to be Jim Fisher, which of course I could not dispute. In 2005, Gail was able to find the ‘Stars of Lightning Bolt Comics’ in my copyright registration information, on the Library of Congress website, revealing this information. It was an announcement that I could not deny.

The two people who were considered as the "ring-leaders" of the "bashers' were always felt to be James MacQuarrie and renowned comic book writer, Gail Simone, though other members did their part in continuing the 'war.' Likewise, it was James MacQuarrie (Mac) who helped me to end this long confrontation, which has most definitely consumed all those involved, in some way or another.

What has transpired as a result this positive move on both sides is that their members and I have worked together on making LBE even better than it ever was. The details of that have so far included: the welcomed invitation to join their plans for Comicon (first asked of me by OzBat!), this beautiful new site design (by sk716), an editing offer for When Lightning Strikes #0 and the Ashcan (by PatrickG), as well, as a new comic book collaboration, for submission to another publisher like Image (with Carlton Donaghe). In such a short time, we've all seen that we're much better friends/associates than enemies.

What first made the current healing of the war possible? After the YABSers got confirmation of LBE information by my former publicist, Judith Moose, they saw that what I've stated just might have truth to it. This was the monumental moment, which I took advantage of to finally cement the new relationship. It was a solid move on both our parts.

Unfortunately, there are still a couple of stragglers, who are not seemingly content with us all working together, instead of against each other, but they will either eventually come to their senses or will be very alone in their quest to keep a needless war continuing. Before, my supporters who joined in defending me were very few, on YABS, as they didn't want to be a target as well. This went on throughout the 6+ year war. Now, those who are still against me are very few and far between, as we all continue to "build some bridges."

In short, we're all working together to create everything anew between us all and working towards a better future. I personally give my thanks for this opportunity and look forward to what the next day brings, vowing to do my part in making sure that this great relationship continues. And nobody has need to suffer the ugliness of a war between us ever again.

Thanks guys! "

Just a small correction again, and this is not a big deal, but I had nothing to do with the copyright legal thingie being uncovered. I frankly am not smart enough to have thought to look.

Not a big deal, and I agree, it's more fun to have you posting here than not.

Best,

Gail

[Gail Simone]

Thank you very much, Gail...

But again, my artwork is the same as it has been for quite a while. You must still be thinking of the artwork in the first part of WLS#0, which doesn't reflect my style, as it has been for the past number of years. That first part was done a LOOOOOOOONG time ago, when I was still perfecting my own style. You just haven't seen more of my work, and keep thinking back to that first part of WLS#0. I'm not being defensive or anything... I'm just saying that my artwork 'grew' to what it is years ago.

I'll get the script to you later on.

Thanks again,
J-


No, I'm not making any sort of judgment or accusation, I realize the older stuff didn't reflect your current abilities.

No worries, no insult was intended.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

I was introduced to Steve in the early part of '99, by my nephew, who lived in the same apartment complex, since the year before. Obviously I knew who Steve was, even before my nephew told me, having my own copies of the introduction of the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern. I just didn't know that he was greatly responsible for that character's first costume creation (he especially takes pride in the unique mask design).

Anyway, we immediately hit it off and he wanted to work with me, but his spinal condition doesn't allow him to take the time to do an entire comic book anymore, unless he has several months to do one issue. Therefore, I made him my lead cover artist who does an occasional poster or pin-up. He was renting a room from me for almost a year to work easier on those projects together, along with doing the autograph sessions, of which the pictures you saw.

By the way... I don't know if you remember me telling you, but he thought it was hilarious when you guys asked "who is that corpse next to J-Bolt." His back condition is why he never made personal appearances and the like, because of how he looks, though he does have a good sense of humor about it. I convinced him to do the appearances with me and he was glad he agreed.

The past couple of years, I haven't had any new work for him and he's been taking back up on the reigns with some characters he created partly along with Darryl Banks. He has worked on these characters (I haven't asked his permission to say the details of the character, so I won't take the liberty), for quite a few years before I met him, even having trading cards and such printed of them. In his work on them, he always evolves the look and style of the character.

As soon as I'm ready to go into full print, I'll be calling on him to pick up his drawing utensils again to put that great style to LBE projects again.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

Yep, this is more like it...actual stuff to see and enjoy. Definitely a step in the right direction.

I like the first two images in the character art gallery in particular.

Hey, if you don't mind me asking, J, how DID you meet Steve Carr, and why has he seemingly dropped out of the industry? He seems really, really talented!

Gail

[J-Bolt]

I'm glad you like my announced tribute to our friendship.
J-;)

"BASHERS NO MORE!
Sunday, August 13 2006 @ 08:15 PM MST
Contributed by: J-Bolt
Views: 0
On August 2nd, 2006, I received a belated birthday present that I've been asking for during a span of over six years... PEACE.

The members of the 'You'll All Be Sorry' (YABS) and I began to finally sit back and talk civil, when I agreed to an offer they made to include me in a group effort of creating comic pages and make it available at the next Comicon. This most recent development came about in their "J-Bolt News" string of posts. Their notice was caught when I announced on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) website that I wanted for us all to have a sit down chat, using Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM), so that any and all pertinent questions can be answered directly from me. This was the start of a long-awaited friendship, which I've worked for all this time. Before this relationship became real, both sides involved of course scrutinized it, but earnest offers on both sides prevailed to remove the doubts from all of us, over a short span.

As everybody who is familiar with the companies and projects of Lightning Bolt Entertainment knows, the YABSers and I have been at 'war' for over six years. Occasionally, I asked them to end this silly war, in attempts to be friends with what would be my greatest critics. This war has consumed the time, efforts, and costs all in many other various ways, of those involved. During the past year or so, I decided to give up on trying to make friends with them and even refused to watch over their posts against me, with exception of the IMDb posts. For this past, awful time, with them, they were given the title of "bashers," along with other titles, as they'd given me several choice names as well.

The war began joined with these members, and others, also on the Warren Ellis forum, but I haven't looked into that one since the YABS forums became my prominent opposition. Hence, I don't know what has transpired on those particular forums, since that time, but what was important to me was to mend the fences with the most involved soldiers of this war. Relief is such a small word that describes what I feel for our long-awaited 'cease fire' and, in the words of the immortal Bullwinkle, "now the healing can begin."

Though I kept my real name concealed, ever since the news of my company first hit the airwaves in 1987, Gail Simone was even able to find legal evidence of it, proving and announcing me to be Jim Fisher, which of course I could not dispute. In 2005, Gail was able to find the ‘Stars of Lightning Bolt Comics’ in my copyright registration information, on the Library of Congress website, revealing this information. It was an announcement that I could not deny.

The two people who were considered as the "ring-leaders" of the "bashers' were always felt to be James MacQuarrie and renowned comic book writer, Gail Simone, though other members did their part in continuing the 'war.' Likewise, it was James MacQuarrie (Mac) who helped me to end this long confrontation, which has most definitely consumed all those involved, in some way or another.

What has transpired as a result this positive move on both sides is that their members and I have worked together on making LBE even better than it ever was. The details of that have so far included: the welcomed invitation to join their plans for Comicon (first asked of me by OzBat!), this beautiful new site design (by sk716), an editing offer for When Lightning Strikes #0 and the Ashcan (by PatrickG), as well, as a new comic book collaboration, for submission to another publisher like Image (with Carlton Donaghe). In such a short time, we've all seen that we're much better friends/associates than enemies.

What first made the current healing of the war possible? After the YABSers got confirmation of LBE information by my former publicist, Judith Moose, they saw that what I've stated just might have truth to it. This was the monumental moment, which I took advantage of to finally cement the new relationship. It was a solid move on both our parts.

Unfortunately, there are still a couple of stragglers, who are not seemingly content with us all working together, instead of against each other, but they will either eventually come to their senses or will be very alone in their quest to keep a needless war continuing. Before, my supporters who joined in defending me were very few, on YABS, as they didn't want to be a target as well. This went on throughout the 6+ year war. Now, those who are still against me are very few and far between, as we all continue to "build some bridges."

In short, we're all working together to create everything anew between us all and working towards a better future. I personally give my thanks for this opportunity and look forward to what the next day brings, vowing to do my part in making sure that this great relationship continues. And nobody has need to suffer the ugliness of a war between us ever again.

Thanks guys! "

Just a small correction again, and this is not a big deal, but I had nothing to do with the copyright legal thingie being uncovered. I frankly am not smart enough to have thought to look.

Not a big deal, and I agree, it's more fun to have you posting here than not.

Best,

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Gail...
I know that there were no insults intended. Please forgive me for seeming to be overly defensive.

Do me a favor... gimme' your YIM so that we can chat again, sometime.

I sent the BombShell script to ya'. Please make sure to keep it to yourself (please gimme' your word here), so that it won't accidentally get out over the Internet by some hacker getting access to it somehow.

Thanks,
J-;)

No, I'm not making any sort of judgment or accusation, I realize the older stuff didn't reflect your current abilities.

No worries, no insult was intended.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I was introduced to Steve in the early part of '99, by my nephew, who lived in the same apartment complex, since the year before. Obviously I knew who Steve was, even before my nephew told me, having my own copies of the introduction of the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern. I just didn't know that he was greatly responsible for that character's first costume creation (he especially takes pride in the unique mask design).

Anyway, we immediately hit it off and he wanted to work with me, but his spinal condition doesn't allow him to take the time to do an entire comic book anymore, unless he has several months to do one issue. Therefore, I made him my lead cover artist who does an occasional poster or pin-up. He was renting a room from me for almost a year to work easier on those projects together, along with doing the autograph sessions, of which the pictures you saw.

By the way... I don't know if you remember me telling you, but he thought it was hilarious when you guys asked "who is that corpse next to J-Bolt." His back condition is why he never made personal appearances and the like, because of how he looks, though he does have a good sense of humor about it. I convinced him to do the appearances with me and he was glad he agreed.

The past couple of years, I haven't had any new work for him and he's been taking back up on the reigns with some characters he created partly along with Darryl Banks. He has worked on these characters (I haven't asked his permission to say the details of the character, so I won't take the liberty), for quite a few years before I met him, even having trading cards and such printed of them. In his work on them, he always evolves the look and style of the character.

As soon as I'm ready to go into full print, I'll be calling on him to pick up his drawing utensils again to put that great style to LBE projects again.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

I'm very sorry to hear about his spinal condition. That's an awful thing to hear.

He's very talented, though. If he feels up to (and has the inclination) picking up some work at DC, I'd certainly be glad to let some editors know he's looking.

I wish him the best with his health issues. :(

Gail

[MacQuarrie]

OH! Now, I know who you're talking about. The first time I saw that Bolt was in a 1986 Blue Devil comic book.

That was actually what broke up the work relationship between mark/Steph Heike and me. The claimed to own the rights to a main character named Bolt with their 1984 copyrighted Bolt, but were upset when I proved that I owned a 1981 copyright of a Bolt main character. They told me that either I give up the rights to my Bolt name or they wouldn't work with me. So, I told 'em b'bye.

They said that they even had contact with DC about their Bolt but nothing ensued from it because they said that DC promised never to try and make their Bolt into a main character with the name on a comic book cover.

J-:cool:
What you have here is a vary common misunderstanding. Most people don't really understand the difference between copyright and trademark, but your dispute with the Heikes is centered right on it.

It is impossible to copyright a name or an idea for a character. Copyright does not protect concepts; it only covers the specific exectution of those concepts. If you wanted to do a comic about a heroe called "Superman", there is nothing in copyright law that would prevent you from doing so, as long as the character didn't resemble any protected drawings.

Character names can be protected by trademark law, but only if they are currently being used and are registered. Even if the Heikes had done hteir Bolt character first, if they didn't register a trademark, it's fair game for you to use the name. On the other hand, if yours was first and you didn't register a trademark, they can still call their character by the same name.

That's why Marvel and DC can both have characters called "Captain Marvel."

As long as their character didn't look like yours or have a similar story, there was no need for a dispute. Legally, you could both use the name as long as nobody had trademarked it.

[OMAR]

I was introduced to Steve in the early part of '99, by my nephew, who lived in the same apartment complex, since the year before. Obviously I knew who Steve was, even before my nephew told me, having my own copies of the introduction of the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern. I just didn't know that he was greatly responsible for that character's first costume creation (he especially takes pride in the unique mask design).


I can't remember a more universally disliked design element in a superhero costume that was created in my lifetime. No reflection on his other work, I don't know anything about the man, but I find that particular point of pride to be ridiculous.

I suppose they can't all be winners. Have the LBE characters gone through any redesigns over the years - any old sketches or rejected ideas that you could scan to give us a behind the scenes look at the J-Bolt creative process?

[J-Bolt]

That would be great. Steve can't do large projects for them anymore, unless they want to give him the several months needed to do so, but I'm sure he'd love to do work with them again.
J-:cool:

I'm very sorry to hear about his spinal condition. That's an awful thing to hear.

He's very talented, though. If he feels up to (and has the inclination) picking up some work at DC, I'd certainly be glad to let some editors know he's looking.

I wish him the best with his health issues. :(

Gail

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I can't remember a more universally disliked design element in a superhero costume that was created in my lifetime. No reflection on his other work, I don't know anything about the man, but I find that particular point of pride to be ridiculous.



I really don't see the anger towards it. When the right artists did Kyle Rayner and his mask Carr designed it clicked. The character has had worse looks like that fucking male dominatrix look he had as Green Lantern and his new Ion look.

But Carr should be proud of the job he did on the 1st GL Kyle Rayner costume. If only DC would incorporate some elements from it into Ion and I'd be a happy fan.

[J-Bolt]

Right you are!

What you have here is a vary common misunderstanding. Most people don't really understand the difference between copyright and trademark, but your dispute with the Heikes is centered right on it.

It is impossible to copyright a name or an idea for a character. Copyright does not protect concepts; it only covers the specific exectution of those concepts. If you wanted to do a comic about a heroe called "Superman", there is nothing in copyright law that would prevent you from doing so, as long as the character didn't resemble any protected drawings.

Character names can be protected by trademark law, but only if they are currently being used and are registered. Even if the Heikes had done hteir Bolt character first, if they didn't register a trademark, it's fair game for you to use the name. On the other hand, if yours was first and you didn't register a trademark, they can still call their character by the same name.

That's why Marvel and DC can both have characters called "Captain Marvel."

As long as their character didn't look like yours or have a similar story, there was no need for a dispute. Legally, you could both use the name as long as nobody had trademarked it.

[Gail Simone]

I really don't see the anger towards it. When the right artists did Kyle Rayner and his mask Carr designed it clicked. The character has had worse looks like that fucking male dominatrix look he had as Green Lantern and his new Ion look.

But Carr should be proud of the job he did on the 1st GL Kyle Rayner costume. If only DC would incorporate some elements from it into Ion and I'd be a happy fan.

I always liked it, but Omar's right, it was almost universally decried when it came out, seemingly.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Alex Ross said that he never really liked Kyle's costume either, but I liked the mask and insignia variant, since it was something unlike what we had seen before in a Green Lantern.

Oh yeah, my characters have gone through changes in evolving their look more for the times and such. Most of those changes were very small, but the biggest changes were with the Gargantua Team. Other than that, when I first created Bolt, he was a cartoony character with a rather simple costume, then I made him into a comic book (as opposed to comic strip) character. After that, I made his costume a bit more complex, but still not really enough to thoroughly satisfy me. In '86 is when I came up with the current design, with the only change in that look being the connection of his cape to the rest of his costume.

When I come across some of those old looks, I'll scan 'em and show ya' here... maybe even dedicate one of the graphics albums, on the LBE site, to that comparison. I've been working on an LBE calendar which the characters will have a picture now and a small corner one with how they looked at first creation, on the month pages that they were created. For example, Bolt was created in February 1981, so his would be on February's page, naturally.
J-:cool:

P.S. Is there a way to make LBE character smilies for here and/or the LBE site? I know one part of that question should be for Shelly, but I'm sure she'll come across this post eventually and answer that on her part.

I can't remember a more universally disliked design element in a superhero costume that was created in my lifetime. No reflection on his other work, I don't know anything about the man, but I find that particular point of pride to be ridiculous.

I suppose they can't all be winners. Have the LBE characters gone through any redesigns over the years - any old sketches or rejected ideas that you could scan to give us a behind the scenes look at the J-Bolt creative process?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I always liked it, but Omar's right, it was almost universally decried when it came out, seemingly.

Gail


We really have to think back , not only was it the look , it was him being the last Green Lantern though. Because as we saw people hated the character. I've seen some online tell me they hated the Peter Parkeresque treatment done to Green Lantern.

He could have had Hal Jordan's classic GL costume or Guy Gardner's and odds are some would have attacked it. He was a character that ala teen Tony Stark who had heat. Marvel got scared and backed off , DC didn't. :)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Alex Ross said that he never really liked Kyle's costume either, but I liked the mask and insignia variant, since it was something unlike what we had seen before in a Green Lantern.

.


See thats why I liked the costume as well. Like it was a totally different thing Green Lantern wise. That Rayner was the changing of the guard and he was the " New " .

Some online have told me artists hated the costume because the mask and detail to it all was a lot.

[OMAR]

Oh, I could go on and on like a madman about my hatred for the character, make no mistake - I've done it many times. But even his supporters used to call him ol'Crab Face as I recall.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Oh, I could go on and on like a madman about my hatred for the character, make no mistake - I've done it many times. But even his supporters used to call him ol'Crab Face as I recall.


Odds are it was done with affection though. ;)

[J-Bolt]

My theory on that would be because of what I said before: that is wasn't something we were used to seeing on a Green Lantern. I always did feel that the rest of the costume needed more work, and didn't like his gauntlets as I couldn't see how metallic gauntlets like that would enable him to bend his wrists adequately to effectively fight crime and such. I think that the insignia was great, but it needed much more flash about it... maybe using that green-pearlized white go all the way down, similar to the Eradicator's Superman suit. I think that would've looked sharp.

We can all find things we don't like about new costumes and such, but that's the whole thing: individual taste. If an artist pictures more of what kind of materials the costumes are made of, they could make any costume look better, because them drawing it like those certain materials would make it look good. I'm sure you guys remember me saying the same thing about making comic book costumes into movie costumes... there's always a way to do it without looking stupid (e.g. using spandex).

My perfect example of that was by saying that Wolverine's comic book costume (at the time the first X-Men movie came out) would've looked great if they would've substituted yellow spandex for a rugged, dull, maize-colored suede and the black parts out of the mid-grade leather. It would achieve his ferral (sp?) look while making him appear the way we know him. With Storm, they should've used the same material as they did on the inside of her cape.

That's the first thing I think of when I create a costume for a character: what materials would be used to make the costume and what use would each part have. The computer-painting I did of the movie BombShell costume is precisely what I had in mind for the comic book costume... except that I need to touch up the boots so they look golden instead of like yellow plastic.

J-:cool:

I always liked it, but Omar's right, it was almost universally decried when it came out, seemingly.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

LOL. That's the thing... ya' just can't please everybody, no matter how hard ya' try.:rolleyes:

Oh, I could go on and on like a madman about my hatred for the character, make no mistake - I've done it many times. But even his supporters used to call him ol'Crab Face as I recall.

[Lima Delta]

I've always liked you, J-Bolt.

Always.

[OMAR]

When I come across some of those old looks, I'll scan 'em and show ya' here... maybe even dedicate one of the graphics albums, on the LBE site, to that comparison. I've been working on an LBE calendar which the characters will have a picture now and a small corner one with how they looked at first creation, on the month pages that they were created. For example, Bolt was created in February 1981, so his would be on February's page, naturally.
J-:cool:


Well there you go, that'd be great. People love that behind the scenes stuff these days. Or maybe they always did but now it's more available. I'd definitely buy that calendar!

[J-Bolt]

Thank you very much, Lima. I don't think I've ever met ya'... but I like you too.
J-:D

I've always liked you, J-Bolt.

Always.

[J-Bolt]

Thanks, Omar. I'll get to more sturdy work on finishing that project so that I can get it in the store before the new year.

I know I've always loved seeing the evolution of characters and such. That's why I buy accurate first appearance figures and special edition DVD's, so that I can learn more about what I'm looking at.

J-:cool:

Well there you go, that'd be great. People love that behind the scenes stuff these days. Or maybe they always did but now it's more available. I'd definitely buy that calendar!

[Lima Delta]

Thank you very much, Lima. I don't think I've ever met ya'... but I like you too.
J-:D

I'm glad you like me! Like I said, I like you. I like you lots!

I like your work more than like should be allowed! HEE HEE.

:)

[J-Bolt]

LOL. Thanks. I'm hoping you'll join us in that group chat, then... as soon as it gets scheduled, anyway. On the Yahoo Instant Messenger, my handle is J_Bolt_LBE.
J-:o

I'm glad you like me! Like I said, I like you. I like you lots!

I like your work more than like should be allowed! HEE HEE.

:)

[J-Bolt]

What's ILS and where's PDX, by the way?
I'm still learning some of this stuff, ya' know.
J-:o

[Gail Simone]

What's ILS and where's PDX, by the way?
I'm still learning some of this stuff, ya' know.
J-:o

Those are both sexually transmitted diseases that she has.

Icky ones.

Gail

[Typo Lad]

VD: The gift that keeps on giving.

[MacQuarrie]

What's ILS and where's PDX, by the way?
I'm still learning some of this stuff, ya' know.
J-:o
I'm gonna guess that ILS is "Information and Library Science" and PDX is the FAA abbreviation for Portland International Airport.

But I could be wrong.

EDIT: I probably am. I think ILS has something to do with instrument landings. And Google confirms it; ILS is "Instrument Landing System", so I guess that means Lima has qualified to land planes in low-visibility conditions.

Am I right?

[sk716]

I moved a couple of the pages last night and I chopped out stuff and edited as I saw fit in an attempt to make the pages a little more professional. I don't really have the time to fully edit and re-write each page as I'm re building them. Does anybody feel up to the task?

[YoGo]

Omigod this is still going on.

[J-Bolt]

So, she has the VD known as PDS and its located in her ILS? WOW! That's gotta' hurt! If an ILS is her airplane runway, there's where the STD description is (think about it... "Hey, Baby... my sesna is coming in for a landing at you ILS <grin>") and the PDS must be the abbreviations of cusswords she said when she found out! OH... MY... GAWD!
I hope she knows that we're just making jokes and not capping on her. I'm sure, since she's followed what's going on, that she knows we're not serious. This is why we're friends.
The difference between friends and enemies: Friends make crude cracks at each other, grinning, waiting for a clever come-back, while enemies make cracks at each other, NOT grinning, and hope the other person doesn't come back.
LOL
J-:D

Those are both sexually transmitted diseases that she has.

Icky ones.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

"Omigod"? You called me? Sorry... people say I have a mossiah complex... but I forgive them.

Of course this is still going on. Why don't you join us?
J-:rolleyes:

Omigod this is still going on.

[J-Bolt]

One of the things I always instructed my students on creating character costumes is to make the costumes timeless; not one that resembles the fashions of the current era. For example: in the 1980's mini-series, "Legends," Black Canary had a new costume, which was short-lived. Why? Because it was way too '80's (i.e. the Olivia Newton John head band, hair style, etc.). To give a character a new costume that is "current with the times" is never a good idea because that costume won't last very long, if at all (again, i.e. I didn't see that costume on Black Canary again after that Legends series), but if you create a new character with a look of only the era you created them in, the character will not stick around... it'll only be a fad of that era, if at all. So, if a person wants to create a character, I always tell them to use a fashion sense that will fit whatever time the character is in. Certain looks never go out: leather, high boots (though that look is the artist's preference), the heavy metal look (it's remained the same since it first came out 35+ years ago), long hair that is 1 length, even layered, and stuff like that. To be a good character creator, one must know the fashion trends throughout all the current eras, noting what has stayed around and what will always stay around.

This is one of the things that made Kyle Rayner's GL costume good, besides it being original, was that it was timeless.

When the Flash came out with his new costume (reminiscent of the John Wesly Shipp TV show, I thought it was great, because they made it a dark, metallic look. I've been disappointed that they took that dark, metallic look away from it, though. Whenever I draw him, I like keeping it in, myself, because I thought it was timeless and innovative.

Anyway, I just needed to add that in from last night's conversation.

J-:cool:

[stealthwise]

One of the things I always instructed my students on creating character costumes is to make the costumes timeless; not one that resembles the fashions of the current era. For example: in the 1980's mini-series, "Legends," Black Canary had a new costume, which was short-lived. Why? Because it was way too '80's (i.e. the Olivia Newton John head band, hair style, etc.). To give a character a new costume that is "current with the times" is never a good idea because that costume won't last very long, if at all (again, i.e. I didn't see that costume on Black Canary again after that Legends series), J-:cool:

She actually wore it for a while, at least in JLI. But yeah, it was a horrid costume.

Kyle Rayner's... ugh. I couldn't understand how an ARTIST could make such a horrible design (by that I mean the character, not Banks, who seemed willing to try something new).

[J-Bolt]

Yeah... I should correct myself, there, concerning BC.

And Darryl was one half of the creative force behind Kyle's costume. Steve Carr was the other half that put in most of it. Darryl was the artist who was assigned the book, but he and Steve worked together. If I remember correctly, they basically just gave Steve a special thanks in the issue.

Then again, Steve's been no stranger to getting his credit taken from him, as he's created a few characters for different companies. One example is that he was completely ripped off by Malibu Comics, when he created N-M-E for them. He couldn't even stand looking at the toys in Toys R Us of that character without wanting to pick up a semi-automatic and want to go postal on the blatant action of Malibu, not even giving him creator credit for the character.

All that doesn't stop him from creating characters, but he's a helluva lot more careful about doing so now. That's another reason that I've always remained paranoid about protecting every character I create, besides the fact that I've had characters ripped off of me too (which I won't go into, as that would stir up trouble, here).

J-:rolleyes:

She actually wore it for a while, at least in JLI. But yeah, it was a horrid costume.

Kyle Rayner's... ugh. I couldn't understand how an ARTIST could make such a horrible design (by that I mean the character, not Banks, who seemed willing to try something new).

[OMAR]

He couldn't even stand looking at the toys in Toys R Us of that character without wanting to pick up a semi-automatic and want to go postal on the blatant action of Malibu, not even giving him creator credit for the character.

Any chance of Steve joining this thread? He sounds like fun.

[J-Bolt]

Steve doesn't own a computer because he just can't sit at them to operate them... not to mention the fact that he doesn't like 'em. I'm still working on finding an answer to that, though.

Sorry about that... but I'm afraid he won't be able to join us.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

Any chance of Steve joining this thread? He sounds like fun.

[Lima Delta]

I'm gonna guess that ILS is "Information and Library Science" and PDX is the FAA abbreviation for Portland International Airport.

But I could be wrong.

EDIT: I probably am. I think ILS has something to do with instrument landings. And Google confirms it; ILS is "Instrument Landing System", so I guess that means Lima has qualified to land planes in low-visibility conditions.

Am I right?

You are correct.

The ILS is the most common precision approach used during instrument flight.

[J-Bolt]

OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooohhhh...
So that's it means. Good job, Mac! Get this guy on Jeopardy... or rather Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (where you could make much more money with such knowledge).

Hope to hear more back from ya', Lima!
J-:cool:

You are correct.

The ILS is the most common precision approach used during instrument flight.

[Gail Simone]

You are correct.

The ILS is the most common precision approach used during instrument flight.

She loves to fly them big ol' STDs.

Gail

[Lima Delta]

Hope to hear more back from ya', Lima!
J-:cool:

I still like you so much, Boltz. (Can I call you that? I LOVE adding z's to things. :) )

She loves to fly them big ol' STDs.

Gail

What's that thing you are again? Oh yeah. You're a skank.

[Gail Simone]

I still like you so much, Boltz. (Can I call you that? I LOVE adding z's to things. :) )



What's that thing you are again? Oh yeah. You're a skank.


I looked in the dictionary under the word, "ho" and found a picture of you, which I thought was odd, because it was printed before you were born.

You are the prophesied ho!

Gail

[Lima Delta]

I looked in the dictionary under the word, "ho" and found a picture of you, which I thought was odd, because it was printed before you were born.

You are the prophesied ho!

Gail

Remember that time you and I met that guy and he was like, "Gail, you have dignity to spare," and you were like, "Thanks."

Yeah, neither do I.

[Gail Simone]

Remember that time you and I met that guy and he was like, "Gail, you have dignity to spare," and you were like, "Thanks."

Yeah, neither do I.

Many scientists are actually skeptical that one woman could contain such a gargantuan amount of skankitude. You're like the Loch Ness Monster of ho's!

Gail

[Lima Delta]

Many scientists are actually skeptical that one woman could contain such a gargantuan amount of skankitude. You're like the Loch Ness Monster of ho's!

Gail

In aviation, it is common knowledge that the angle between the chord line and the relative wind is known as the "angle of attack." It is also common knowledge that you're a whore.

[J-Bolt]

heheheh... I'm staying outta' the thing that you and Gail are having fun with, as I'm sure you 2 write these out an go with it.

Of course you can call me Boltz. It's cute.

Just in case you want to e-mail me, do so at lboltentertainment@sbcglobal.net and we'll see about communicatin'. And I already gave you and everybody my YIM chat handle: J_Bolt_LBE.
Thanks,
J-

Now... I'm getting' the hell outta' here before things go flyin'... and I'm not talking airplanes. LOL:D

I still like you so much, Boltz. (Can I call you that? I LOVE adding z's to things. :) )

[J-Bolt]

By the way, Lima...
When are you going to join the LBE site? Just go to http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com and get yourself registered in.

Just wanted to ask.
J-;)

[Lester C.]

...misspost.

[Lester C.]

Have you considered making an avatar page of your characters?

[J-Bolt]

Sure... Once the character heads are done, they can be used. Meanwhile, if you guys wanna' use the ones I've already put up, go for it.
J-:cool:

Have you considered making an avatar page of your characters?

[OMAR]

J-Bolt, what's your speed in terms of how long it takes you to do pages of sequential art? Could you keep on a schedule that produces 22 pages of pencils a month like someone who is doing a monthly book at DC or Marvel (though few of them actually do these days). Have you ever penciled a story that someone else wrote?

[Carlton Donaghe]

Well, Omar-- not that I'm intending to answer for him, but-- I'm just now about to send J-Bolt another script, though we'll have to bat it back and forth a bit, I'm sure. We've been talking alot about our Image submission idea, so maybe we'll find out. I'm betting that when we get the right script, J-Bolt's gonna hit it out of the park.

[Carlton Donaghe]

Wait, does that sound right?

I-I don't mean he's literally going to take my script and hit it out...

oh, nevermind.

[Gail Simone]

What Image pitch?

Gail

[Carlton Donaghe]

I don't want to reply to this for him, but J-Bolt and I have been batting around ideas for something we can submit to Image. I realize he's got a lot of irons in the fire, but he seems genuinely excited about the idea.

[sk716]

I've got a chatroom installed on the LBE Site and we need some testers. Everybody get over there throught the night so we can find out how many people it takes to crash the chat.

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/staticpages/index.php?page=chat

[Night Swordsman]

I've got a chatroom installed on the LBE Site and we need some testers. Everybody get over there throught the night so we can find out how many people it takes to crash the chat.

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/staticpages/index.php?page=chat

Sitting here in the chat room,all alone =( .

No one wuvs me. :(

[TomStillwell]

I went in earlier. There was no one else but me.

I'm surprised the legion of J-Bolt fans in Japan haven't crashed it yet.

[Locke]

Is Omar now going to change his mind about J-Bolt? I mean if Omar takes the unpopular side if a given argument, and now every one agrees with him, isn't it time for him to switch sides?

[OMAR]

Well I'm sure as hell not going to start bashing J-Bolt, if that's what you mean. I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned around.

[Wingnut]

J-

First off, I am the one you've seen as, "ManicNole", on IMDB. I made this handle up as part of a joke that I don't feel like explaining now, but will at some point if you want me too. Also, I don't feel like going through the process of changing my avatar at this point. It was meant as a joke, but now it's sort of meant as a tribute. If you really want me to change it, I will when I can get around to it.

I was following the beginnings of this peace-process, before I went on vacation for a few weeks. I came back, and tried to catch up with it between things I had to do. I haven't read it all, but I think I've read enough to catch the gist of things.

I'm glad you finally have realized that the majority of, "the bashers", were not so much out to get you as upset with your unfounded hype. There is a point of trying to get people to notice your work, and then there is a point of going overboard. When you so tenaciously kept trying to defend the unfounded hype; that is where many had a problem.

I will lay down some truths about me for you. I'm not a comic book fan. I ONLY came here due to you, and the thread. I enjoy comic book movies that I know some backround about, and those that I don't. I do, however, have many friends who own comic shops and make movies. I pretty much haven't commented on this forum other than your thread.

I think you CAN do something. You can probably make a life's work out of it. I still think your business estimates are off, and even pie-in-the-sky.

BUT, as long as you are trying to be honest with people, not only will I refrain from, "bashing", you, but I will try to be positive.

I still have problems with what you said, (not personally, but actor choices, and such), but I will refrain from going into that due to the spirit of peace. I wish you only the BEST of luck. Whether you make the BEST movie in the world, or the worst, I will STILL go to see it, (if shown in SE, Florida), just to see it. I don't buy comics, but as a promise, I WILL buy yours if my friend's shop gets it.

In closing, J-, JUST BE YOURSELF AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS... Do you see how much support you've received here?!?!?!? Hell, it looks like you've really JUST founded your companies by all that are pitching in to do work! Keep being truthful, and you will have a bigger fan base than you ever tried to invent on-line.

Again...I've seen Mac's site, (loved it..beyond his piece on you), seen some of Gail's stuff, and talked to my comic shop friend about her, but if you get your stuff out....it WILL be the 1st comic I have bought since I was about 8.
(I'll also buy a titile that Gail did, since I'd feel guilty!)

Dude...if you do a showing at the Carefree in West Palm Beach, FL, we WILL have a party.

At least be truthful, and not make up hype with those that are trying to help you. .

Peace and Good Luck

ManicNole...Tom

[J-Bolt]

Of course. On average, I pencil 1 page each day, sometimes les, iff there's less background and such that goes into it. When I pencil for myself to ink, I use a lot less pencils because I know the inks I'll be putting in.
I have penciled others, mostly for use of their own submissions to other companies. If ned be... test me.
J-:cool:

J-Bolt, what's your speed in terms of how long it takes you to do pages of sequential art? Could you keep on a schedule that produces 22 pages of pencils a month like someone who is doing a monthly book at DC or Marvel (though few of them actually do these days). Have you ever penciled a story that someone else wrote?

[J-Bolt]

All I can say is thanks and I won't comment on ther things either, in the same spirit of peace.
J-:cool:

J-

First off, I am the one you've seen as, "ManicNole", on IMDB. I made this handle up as part of a joke that I don't feel like explaining now, but will at some point if you want me too. Also, I don't feel like going through the process of changing my avatar at this point. It was meant as a joke, but now it's sort of meant as a tribute. If you really want me to change it, I will when I can get around to it.

I was following the beginnings of this peace-process, before I went on vacation for a few weeks. I came back, and tried to catch up with it between things I had to do. I haven't read it all, but I think I've read enough to catch the gist of things.

I'm glad you finally have realized that the majority of, "the bashers", were not so much out to get you as upset with your unfounded hype. There is a point of trying to get people to notice your work, and then there is a point of going overboard. When you so tenaciously kept trying to defend the unfounded hype; that is where many had a problem.

I will lay down some truths about me for you. I'm not a comic book fan. I ONLY came here due to you, and the thread. I enjoy comic book movies that I know some backround about, and those that I don't. I do, however, have many friends who own comic shops and make movies. I pretty much haven't commented on this forum other than your thread.

I think you CAN do something. You can probably make a life's work out of it. I still think your business estimates are off, and even pie-in-the-sky.

BUT, as long as you are trying to be honest with people, not only will I refrain from, "bashing", you, but I will try to be positive.

I still have problems with what you said, (not personally, but actor choices, and such), but I will refrain from going into that due to the spirit of peace. I wish you only the BEST of luck. Whether you make the BEST movie in the world, or the worst, I will STILL go to see it, (if shown in SE, Florida), just to see it. I don't buy comics, but as a promise, I WILL buy yours if my friend's shop gets it.

In closing, J-, JUST BE YOURSELF AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS... Do you see how much support you've received here?!?!?!? Hell, it looks like you've really JUST founded your companies by all that are pitching in to do work! Keep being truthful, and you will have a bigger fan base than you ever tried to invent on-line.

Again...I've seen Mac's site, (loved it..beyond his piece on you), seen some of Gail's stuff, and talked to my comic shop friend about her, but if you get your stuff out....it WILL be the 1st comic I have bought since I was about 8.
(I'll also buy a titile that Gail did, since I'd feel guilty!)

Dude...if you do a showing at the Carefree in West Palm Beach, FL, we WILL have a party.

At least be truthful, and not make up hype with those that are trying to help you. .

Peace and Good Luck

ManicNole...Tom

[Wingnut]

First PUI.

[Wingnut]

Gosh DARNIT!!!! It didn't show the smilie face!!!!!!!!!!!!


:-)

[Wingnut]

Sorry, J-...

PUI

[Wingnut]

Another PUI..sorry.

[MacQuarrie]

Is Omar now going to change his mind about J-Bolt? I mean if Omar takes the unpopular side if a given argument, and now every one agrees with him, isn't it time for him to switch sides?
"Everyone agrees with him"? No, not really. There's a whole bunch that I don't agree with J-Bolt on, just as there's a whole bunch I don't agree with Gail on. You don't have to agree with everything somebody says in order to respect them or like them or just be civil to them.

What's happened here is that those of us who chose to antagonize and challenge J-Bolt have decided instead to encourage and support him. Part of that encouragement and support involves telling him the truth. The difference is we will do it in a positive and courteous manner rather than ripping into him.

Just wanted to clarify that.

While we're at it, let's give OMAR his due. If he hadn't taken it upon himself to settle accounts on J-Bolt's behalf, none of this would be possible.

[TomStillwell]

Keep being truthful, and you will have a bigger fan base than you ever tried to invent on-line.

I think "keep" in that statement is the key word. Personally I'd replace it with "start", as in he
needs to start being truthful.

Part of that encouragement and support involves telling him the truth.

Mac's got that right and it also needs to flow both ways. This new peace and friendship will never be real until that happens. There is deception on J-Bolt's part still hanging out there. Until the truth comes out all this is just play acting. The posters a YABS can't trust J-Bolt because they are never given the truth and J-Bolt doesn't trust people enough to come clean with the actual facts.

Not discussing these things doesn't magically make them fact or somehow acceptable. It sure as heck doesn't make someone trust a person.

True peace is the best thing in the world. However not fighting, flaming, or bashing people isn't true peace. That's just a cease fire. The problems each side had with one another are still there. This should be the period when those issues are worked out. Instead it's being hailed as true peace and that helps no one.

This is the last time I will post negatively in this thread for the sake of the cease fire currently being upheld. However, I knowingly can't support J-Bolt until the truth comes out.

[J-Bolt]

I HAVE garnished a challenge for all to see and take me up on.... NAY! THREE CHALLENGES, yet not one have I gotten response back to (this kinda' pirate-like talk is pretty cool, ya' know) from any of ye!

First off: I asked for a group chat of... dare I say it... SUPER-CREATING-FRIENDS! Yet, it has not come to pass. All the while, I've been sitting here, in YIM chat, MOONING ALL 'O Y'ALL, AWAITING SUCH A MULTI-CHAT! After all... it is a weekend... and I'm sure a majority of you will be able to partake in this challenge right now, if not ALL 'O YE' BY THE END OF T'NIGHT!!!
ASK ME ANYTHING! If I can answer it, I will <long, maniacal cackle entered hear before I cough profusely from smoking 2 packas a day>; ask me to back up what I say and, if I have such media available, I'll scan it and post it right here! If not, I'll give the link to where you can get it, if I have access to that (since quite a bit of it, I didn't even find out about unt;l LOOOOONG after it appeared)! JUST ASK, ASK!, ASK!!! THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN THERE, SO TAKE IT!
I'm online, on the Yahoo Instant Messenger, right now, under the handle of J_Bolt_LBE so let's get that group chat going! (I'm not yelling per se, by the way... just trying to win a drama award for my performance, here).

SECONDLY!: Ask me about all the "claims" I've made and I'll back them up with either actual news clippings, if I have them, and/or the dates, places they occurred from!

THIRDLY!: If you want to see that I can do the things I can do (or at least you feel that I've SAID I CAN DO, TEST ME! How about somebody starting a plot/character concept for a... say... 3-4 panel concept story that can be made interesting, everybody settle on it. It can be funny; action, peril, an origin of a character, etc... just something that'll hold for a good 3, maybe 4 panels (tops). Once that plot is created, we vote to see whose plot would be the good one to do it. From that plot, we all now create the 3-4 panel page in thumbnail art and again vote. From there, we all refine those pencils into something legible for the inkers to do their rendition of. After that vote has been cast, we all do our own reditions of inking it; after that, the color artists (or colorists (depending on your style)) takes their parts; then, we finish it with the letterer finishing our short creation for all to see.
HOW'S THAT FOR A CHALLENGE???
IT'S SOMETHING PERFECT FOR OUR WEEKEND(S) AND WOULD TAKE ONLY A FEW MINUTES EACH FOR EACH POSTION OF OUR CHALLEGE TO EACH OTHER: A FRIENDLY GAME TO SHOW THAT WE'RE NOTHING BUT PEERS AND NOT COMPETITIORS! The winning Letterer can create the title and make it stick, after we vote on it. If we like how it comes out, we can continue this as our own little thing to do each/every weekend... from there, we create a webpage to keep our uber-cool online series for all too see and decide what we want to do with it... maybe even start charging everyone else, who doesn't take place in it, to see it, once we give them some short episodes to whet their appetites for what we're doing!

NOW... ARE YOU GUYS GAME TO SEE WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO WHAT??? WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY AND EVEN AS OUR OWN LITTLE CLIQUE'S! SHOW, LET'S MAKE THIS LITTLE SHOW OF POWER INTO SOMETHING MORE... SOMETHING WE CAN PROUDLY DISPLAY, WHICH EVEN HAS OUR OWN PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL USES!
ONCE WE'VE FILLED OUT ENOUGH PAGES, WE CAN EVEN MAKE A COMIC BOOK WITH NO OVER-HEAD BY PUTTING IT IN A CAFESHOPS COMIC BOOK TO HAVE OUR OWN COPIES!
:evilsmile
I await your answer as I know you're online and waiting... considering if this is a challenge that you might have the walnuts to partake in. THROW IN YOUR WALNUTS AND SHOW WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
J:cool:


I think "keep" in that statement is the key word. Personally I'd replace it with "start", as in he
needs to start being truthful.

Mac's got that right and it also needs to flow both ways. This new peace and friendship will never be real until that happens. There is deception on J-Bolt's part still hanging out there. Until the truth comes out all this is just play acting. The posters a YABS can't trust J-Bolt because they are never given the truth and J-Bolt doesn't trust people enough to come clean with the actual facts.

Not discussing these things doesn't magically make them fact or somehow acceptable. It sure as heck doesn't make someone trust a person.

True peace is the best thing in the world. However not fighting, flaming, or bashing people isn't true peace. That's just a cease fire. The problems each side had with one another are still there. This should be the period when those issues are worked out. Instead it's being hailed as true peace and that helps no one.

This is the last time I will post negatively in this thread for the sake of the cease fire currently being upheld. However, I knowingly can't support J-Bolt until the truth comes out.

[PatrickG]

Hey, Bolt. I'm just waiting on the WLS stuff so I can take a look at the dialogue and formatting...

[sk716]

I'm too busy finishing your website to be concerned with any challenges.

[J-Bolt]

Already uploaded to ya'.
J-

Hey, Bolt. I'm just waiting on the WLS stuff so I can take a look at the dialogue and formatting...

[J-Bolt]

For the record... I've BEEN telling the truth and haven't stopped doing so. Take it as you wil. You ask me questions and I answer them. If you don't think you'll like the answers, don't ask the questions. Either way, once and for all, I'm BEING truthful. I'm sure that's the last time I'll have to defend myself in that regard or any other.
Apparently, it's time for me to stop posting, answering questions, etc., and get back to business uninterupted, as I thought we were through all this.
J-


I think "keep" in that statement is the key word. Personally I'd replace it with "start", as in he
needs to start being truthful.



Mac's got that right and it also needs to flow both ways. This new peace and friendship will never be real until that happens. There is deception on J-Bolt's part still hanging out there. Until the truth comes out all this is just play acting. The posters a YABS can't trust J-Bolt because they are never given the truth and J-Bolt doesn't trust people enough to come clean with the actual facts.

Not discussing these things doesn't magically make them fact or somehow acceptable. It sure as heck doesn't make someone trust a person.

True peace is the best thing in the world. However not fighting, flaming, or bashing people isn't true peace. That's just a cease fire. The problems each side had with one another are still there. This should be the period when those issues are worked out. Instead it's being hailed as true peace and that helps no one.

This is the last time I will post negatively in this thread for the sake of the cease fire currently being upheld. However, I knowingly can't support J-Bolt until the truth comes out.

[TomStillwell]

The problem is I think you truthfully believe some of the things you say even though they are factually false. You've been caught in falsehoods before but yet you still are asking us to take all you say at face value without any kind of solid proof.

For example, you've claimed and still claim to have several decent sized companies staffed with many people, including a web design team. Yet it wasn't until a generous YABster offered her services for free that you've finally had a good website. Why is that? Why is it the one employee we know of, Heather Andes, doesn't seem to exist anywhere but on internet forums?

This is just one of the many things that people have called you on and never received a solid answer. It's not a matter of liking the answers you give. It's a matter of believing the answers you give.

I work for a fairly large law firm and part of my job is research. I find facts. I look for the truth. I'm coming up empty with pretty much all you claim.

[Carlton Donaghe]

I tell you guys what... how about we back off of this for right now?

I just sent J- some script pages and suggested maybe he do some sketches, maybe a page or two of continuity and post them here for everyone to see.

I know that won't answer some of Tom's questions, but maybe it will do for right now to see J-Bolt do some artwork and give everyone a sense of what he's really capable of doing. Maybe it will also change the subject.

I don't want to see things slipping back into claims and counter-claims. I would rather you guys see J- do some great art. Encourage him on that.

Of course, if he doesn't like the pages I sent him, I'll have to scramble to come up with something better. But just hold off until we get something to show you guys here, okay?

Whatta ya say? Do it for me-- a stranger from out of nowhere that none of you know. I think it will pay off in the end.

[Red Jack]

Y'all folks is crazy.

I love this thread.

[Gail Simone]

Wait, who's throwing walnuts?

I'm lost.

Gail

[Lester C.]

Wait, who's throwing walnuts?

I'm lost.

Gail
I am, but somehow they never reach my targets in Arkansas, California and Australia. I'm thinking of lifting weights.

[TomStillwell]

I won't say anything more here. If you guys are content to let the elephant stay in the room then I guess that's your deal.

I don't doubt that J-Bolt has some talent. But there's more to working in comics than having talent.

Lester, throw me some walnuts here in Chicago.

[Lester C.]

I won't say anything more here. If you guys are content to let the elephant stay in the room than I guess that's your deal.

I don't doubt that J-Bolt has some talent. But there's more to working in comics than having talent.

Lester, throw me some walnuts here in Chicago.
A much easier target to hit given the fact that I go to school there. I was even considering living downtown, in the univerisity center, untill I realized it was going to be 13,000 dollars a semester to live there.:eek:

[Crowley]

I HAVE garnished a challenge for all to see and take me up on.... NAY! THREE CHALLENGES, yet not one have I gotten response back to (this kinda' pirate-like talk is pretty cool, ya' know) from any of ye!

First off: I asked for a group chat of... dare I say it... SUPER-CREATING-FRIENDS! Yet, it has not come to pass. All the while, I've been sitting here, in YIM chat, MOONING ALL 'O Y'ALL, AWAITING SUCH A MULTI-CHAT! After all... it is a weekend... and I'm sure a majority of you will be able to partake in this challenge right now, if not ALL 'O YE' BY THE END OF T'NIGHT!!!
ASK ME ANYTHING! If I can answer it, I will <long, maniacal cackle entered hear before I cough profusely from smoking 2 packas a day>; ask me to back up what I say and, if I have such media available, I'll scan it and post it right here! If not, I'll give the link to where you can get it, if I have access to that (since quite a bit of it, I didn't even find out about unt;l LOOOOONG after it appeared)! JUST ASK, ASK!, ASK!!! THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN THERE, SO TAKE IT!
I'm online, on the Yahoo Instant Messenger, right now, under the handle of J_Bolt_LBE so let's get that group chat going! (I'm not yelling per se, by the way... just trying to win a drama award for my performance, here).

SECONDLY!: Ask me about all the "claims" I've made and I'll back them up with either actual news clippings, if I have them, and/or the dates, places they occurred from!

THIRDLY!: If you want to see that I can do the things I can do (or at least you feel that I've SAID I CAN DO, TEST ME! How about somebody starting a plot/character concept for a... say... 3-4 panel concept story that can be made interesting, everybody settle on it. It can be funny; action, peril, an origin of a character, etc... just something that'll hold for a good 3, maybe 4 panels (tops). Once that plot is created, we vote to see whose plot would be the good one to do it. From that plot, we all now create the 3-4 panel page in thumbnail art and again vote. From there, we all refine those pencils into something legible for the inkers to do their rendition of. After that vote has been cast, we all do our own reditions of inking it; after that, the color artists (or colorists (depending on your style)) takes their parts; then, we finish it with the letterer finishing our short creation for all to see.
HOW'S THAT FOR A CHALLENGE???
IT'S SOMETHING PERFECT FOR OUR WEEKEND(S) AND WOULD TAKE ONLY A FEW MINUTES EACH FOR EACH POSTION OF OUR CHALLEGE TO EACH OTHER: A FRIENDLY GAME TO SHOW THAT WE'RE NOTHING BUT PEERS AND NOT COMPETITIORS! The winning Letterer can create the title and make it stick, after we vote on it. If we like how it comes out, we can continue this as our own little thing to do each/every weekend... from there, we create a webpage to keep our uber-cool online series for all too see and decide what we want to do with it... maybe even start charging everyone else, who doesn't take place in it, to see it, once we give them some short episodes to whet their appetites for what we're doing!

NOW... ARE YOU GUYS GAME TO SEE WHO CAN ACTUALLY DO WHAT??? WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY AND EVEN AS OUR OWN LITTLE CLIQUE'S! SHOW, LET'S MAKE THIS LITTLE SHOW OF POWER INTO SOMETHING MORE... SOMETHING WE CAN PROUDLY DISPLAY, WHICH EVEN HAS OUR OWN PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL USES!
ONCE WE'VE FILLED OUT ENOUGH PAGES, WE CAN EVEN MAKE A COMIC BOOK WITH NO OVER-HEAD BY PUTTING IT IN A CAFESHOPS COMIC BOOK TO HAVE OUR OWN COPIES!
:evilsmile
I await your answer as I know you're online and waiting... considering if this is a challenge that you might have the walnuts to partake in. THROW IN YOUR WALNUTS AND SHOW WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
J:cool:

you had at one point Gail offering a script... if her offer still stands, I'm a staff letterer, I'll offer to letter the book.

I'll even throw in a painted cover if you get all this stuff lined up.

[Gail Simone]

you had at one point Gail offering a script... if her offer still stands, I'm a staff letterer, I'll offer to letter the book.

I'll even throw in a painted cover if you get all this stuff lined up.


No offense to anyone and I'm sure J-bolt doesn't need it, but that's no longer possible for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I'm way over-committed.

Gail

[Crowley]

ah see... there goes my scam to get chance to catch a gander at your process.

[Gail Simone]

I've got several scripts up online.

(Throws a walnut).

Gail

[Night Swordsman]

I've got several scripts up online.

(Throws a walnut).

Gail

She does,one of which is on her blog website.
I check her blog constantly in vain hopes that she might one day UPDATE it...sigh :rolleyes:
http://happystains.blogspot.com/


One Day,Gail?

[J-Bolt]

Precisely...
Now, I've already taken up Carlton's offer and am waiting for him to send me a package to do some work to show you guys guys... actually, it's for work that necessary for more than that.
I've been spending too much time on here and not getting the right work done for EVERYBODY'S satisfaction. So, just gimme' some time to get these things done and organized s that EVERYBODY is happy. Again, excuse me for not posting more lately, but I have work which needs to be done. The faster I'll be able to get it done will be the faster that Carlton will be able to get those items right back to me.
Thanks,
J-:cool:

I tell you guys what... how about we back off of this for right now?

I just sent J- some script pages and suggested maybe he do some sketches, maybe a page or two of continuity and post them here for everyone to see.

I know that won't answer some of Tom's questions, but maybe it will do for right now to see J-Bolt do some artwork and give everyone a sense of what he's really capable of doing. Maybe it will also change the subject.

I don't want to see things slipping back into claims and counter-claims. I would rather you guys see J- do some great art. Encourage him on that.

Of course, if he doesn't like the pages I sent him, I'll have to scramble to come up with something better. But just hold off until we get something to show you guys here, okay?

Whatta ya say? Do it for me-- a stranger from out of nowhere that none of you know. I think it will pay off in the end.

[J-Bolt]

THERE'S ONE DOWN!!!:rolleyes:

you had at one point Gail offering a script... if her offer still stands, I'm a staff letterer, I'll offer to letter the book.

I'll even throw in a painted cover if you get all this stuff lined up.

[Lester C.]

THERE'S ONE DOWN!!!:rolleyes:
J-Bolt can you post below whatever you are quoting? It's giving me a headache when you post this, and then quote what you are posting to.

[Red Jack]

submitted without comment.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8433039

[Matt Algren]

I won't say anything more here. If you guys are content to let the elephant stay in the room then I guess that's your deal.

I don't doubt that J-Bolt has some talent. But there's more to working in comics than having talent.

Lester, throw me some walnuts here in Chicago.
I find myself agreeing with Tom here. I've been pretty quiet of late, partly because people tend to ignore what I have to say anyway, but partly because I'm just no dang good at ignoring the elephant in the room.

I'm sorry, Jim, but other than the Batmite piece you put up, I just haven't been blown away by your stuff. You've said several times that people are making judgments based on the online ashcan thing and that the ashcan isn't indicative of what you would draw now. Well then, give people (not necessarily us) something that is what you would draw now. Not just pinups, but actual sequential art that effectively tells a story.

You said a few pages back that you average penciling a page a day. But you've never done that. According to you, you could have had twenty-odd issues out just since this thread started. But you didn't. Now you're throwing out a challenge that someone write a story for you to illustrate so people can see what you can really do. No offense, but that's your job. If you want people (again, not necessarily us) to take you seriously, stop talking and start doing. If you do a page a day, then you can have something up on your website next week.

As Tom said a day or so ago, you've claimed to have more than a few employees dedicated to producing your electronic media. But you had a mess with dead links all over it until sk176 offered to do it for free in her spare time. She's doing a darn fine job, but what happened to all those employees? Where is Heather?

Blarg. I know, I know, I'm not helping here. I'll just shut up now.

EDIT: And you kids stay out of my walnut trees! Dang kids...

[J-Bolt]

I don't remember and I've got work to do. This going back to being challegend is getting to be a headache again.
J-:mad:

J-Bolt can you post below whatever you are quoting? It's giving me a headache when you post this, and then quote what you are posting to.

[J-Bolt]

Have no idea who th' hell this is & if they want to contact me, they're welcome to do so.
J-

submitted without comment.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8433039

[J-Bolt]

People...
I offered to do something fun (this comic book group project), while doing my own work, so that you can see my work while we can have that cameraderie (sp?) without singin' freakin' "cumbaya." Mac knows I'm working, just as Carlton, Patrick, and others.

I was asked how many pages I can do a day, I though just as a general question (not knowing I was being set up for some work ethic quiz on my company work), which I asnwered that I can do 1 page a day, depending on what is entailed (without exactly quoting myself).

You're so right... I'll stop talking and start doing. You won't hear anymore from me here, so that I can get to my work (which, is what I said MANY posts previously, anyway).

Heather stopped doing the webmastering and I'm taking it over, letting the other 3 people go to other departments. And, before somebody asks, no, I'm not going to give an employee roster of who works for me). I never claimed anymore than 2 - 3 dozen worldwide, mostly in an independant contractor capacity, except for those on the film. Shelly did a fantastic job on the new site and now she's teaching me what changes were put into place, between both our busy schedules.

Now... excuse me but I have freakin' work to do and don't find it necessary to start defending myself again, when I thought we were all past that to begin with, which is why I spent so much time on here instead of my work, costing me valuable time, and got my hope up that this was past ALL of us, but I thought "friends" were worth that. I do have friends here. Those who are still in their own doubting mode will just have to watch what comes about next.

The offer to do a group chat wasn't taken up on by anybody here, which would've GREATLY kept all this crap from happening, but alas...

Back to work for me. I'm in the middle of a big project for someone who is giving me the $ needed for the last film money, then, I'll be taking the next 3 - 4 months to get WLS and BombShell issues drawn up for the filming to start and my planned schedule to commence.

If I misspelled anything in here, I'm sorry.
If there's anything urgent that needs me, Mac ONLY has my phone number and can gimme' a call to go over any necessary issues, or to lemme' know if I have to be here.
J-:cool:

I find myself agreeing with Tom here. I've been pretty quiet of late, partly because people tend to ignore what I have to say anyway, but partly because I'm just no dang good at ignoring the elephant in the room.

I'm sorry, Jim, but other than the Batmite piece you put up, I just haven't been blown away by your stuff. You've said several times that people are making judgments based on the online ashcan thing and that the ashcan isn't indicative of what you would draw now. Well then, give people (not necessarily us) something that is what you would draw now. Not just pinups, but actual sequential art that effectively tells a story.

You said a few pages back that you average penciling a page a day. But you've never done that. According to you, you could have had twenty-odd issues out just since this thread started. But you didn't. Now you're throwing out a challenge that someone write a story for you to illustrate so people can see what you can really do. No offense, but that's your job. If you want people (again, not necessarily us) to take you seriously, stop talking and start doing. If you do a page a day, then you can have something up on your website next week.

As Tom said a day or so ago, you've claimed to have more than a few employees dedicated to producing your electronic media. But you had a mess with dead links all over it until sk176 offered to do it for free in her spare time. She's doing a darn fine job, but what happened to all those employees? Where is Heather?

Blarg. I know, I know, I'm not helping here. I'll just shut up now.

EDIT: And you kids stay out of my walnut trees! Dang kids...

[Matt Algren]

Just for clarity, so no one is confused:I was asked how many pages I can do a day, I though just as a general question (not knowing I was being set up for some work ethic quiz on my company work)...As far as I know, you weren't being 'set up' for anything. The question (from OMAR) was completely separate from my post, and I haven't interacted with him at all. It was not a set up, but an observation on my part.

I do hope to see good things from you, but frankly, there is an awful lot of water going under this bridge.

[Lester C.]

In the intrest of peace I've removed this post... for now.:cool:

[Matt Algren]

Mine doesn't make sense now that Lester deleted his. [insert frownyface]

[Lester C.]

double post

[J-Bolt]

Right... But Omar's question was turned into 'then why aren't you...?' type of situation. I'm working my ass off on many things, mostly with my company involved and shouldn't have to check in on what I'm doing anymore than anyone else here.

Just let me do my work. If you want me to join in conversation and/or group projects, then let's do so... but the grilling is completely unnecessary.

J-

Just for clarity, so no one is confused:As far as I know, you weren't being 'set up' for anything. The question (from OMAR) was completely separate from my post, and I haven't interacted with him at all. It was not a set up, but an observation on my part.

I do hope to see good things from you, but frankly, there is an awful lot of water going under this bridge.

[Crowley]

THERE'S ONE DOWN!!!:rolleyes:
Dude, write the book, get an interior artist.
get me a Word file written in sentence case and I'll letter it.
If I have time I'll paint you a cover too.

I'm sure other people will help... just write the book.

[Red Jack]

Have no idea who th' hell this is & if they want to contact me, they're welcome to do so.
J-

I enjoy cosmic weirdness. No intent behind it.

[Carlton Donaghe]

As someone who is actually working with the J-Man (that's what I call the dude), I gotta say, he's very open and easy to work with. For at least a week or two now, we've been batting ideas back and forth, talking over the scripts I've been sending him, and basically, we've been having a creative blast.

J-Bolt is actually a very easy-going guy, very friendly, and honestly enthusiastic about doing comics.

We've decided on a concept, we've got a set of characters, and I've already sent him most of the script. I should probably be sending him the final version tomorrow, though I've asked him to talk it over with me one more time before he actually sets pencil to paper. Through all this, he's been very engaged, open, and excited about the project.

I've told him I'll take the lead in communicating with you guys about the project as we go along. I'd rather he stay chained to the drawing board rather than posting here, maybe he can take an occasional break for bread and water, but that should be it.

I've also asked him not to take on any outside projects until he gets the Image project done. I know he's talked to some of you about other stuff, but I'd rather he work solely with me outside of his regular LBE work.

So come on-- just for the fun of it, lay off the guy for the time being (I'm looking at you, Tom). I know people on some message boards like to pick and pick at people just to get satisfaction. I witnessed one poster (on another board) dealing with a John Byrne supporter. He was so aggravated at the fellow who was supporting Byrne that he began digging up all sorts of personal info on the poor guy, including his address, information on whether he was buying or renting, his mother's maiden name and all manner of stuff. It was very uncomfortable to see. Let's not do that. Let's just let the J-Man go off and draw my stuff. Let him do the project in peace. Okay?

[Edited to add the word "or."]

[J-Bolt]

No problem. That's what I'm working on, amongst other things. Post up here some of your favorite painted covers... eh?
J-

Dude, write the book, get an interior artist.
get me a Word file written in sentence case and I'll letter it.
If I have time I'll paint you a cover too.

I'm sure other people will help... just write the book.

[Gail Simone]

I don't even get what's so upsetting.

I don't see any reason to 'challenge' anyone at this point. People are basically waiting to see some work, which is a nice state for things to be in. I don't see any real hostility.

But it's up to you, J-bolt, post or not, it's your choice. I look forward to the story you guys come up with.

Gail

[Gail Simone]

Honestly, not trying to be mean here, but I get worse than this every day and I can't think of a single pro who doesn't. It's just water on a duck's back. Or off. Or something.

Gail

[OMAR]

You said a few pages back that you average penciling a page a day. But you've never done that. According to you, you could have had twenty-odd issues out just since this thread started. But you didn't. Now you're throwing out a challenge that someone write a story for you to illustrate so people can see what you can really do. No offense, but that's your job. If you want people (again, not necessarily us) to take you seriously, stop talking and start doing. If you do a page a day, then you can have something up on your website next week.

That doesn't read like a suggestion, it reads like a demand. Who are you to order J-Bolt around?

As Tom said a day or so ago, you've claimed to have more than a few employees dedicated to producing your electronic media. But you had a mess with dead links all over it until sk176 offered to do it for free in her spare time. She's doing a darn fine job, but what happened to all those employees? Where is Heather?

J-Bolt isn't here to answer those kind of intrusive questions and speculations about his operations or personnel. He's here to make friends and get some friendly advice. Not to take orders and not to jump through hoops. If you can't help but be confrontational, could you please just stop posting to or about him at all?

Blarg. I know, I know, I'm not helping here. I'll just shut up now.


That would be great, thanks.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

So come on-- just for the fun of it, lay off the guy for the time being (I'm looking at you, Tom). I know people on some message boards like to pick and pick at people just to get satisfaction. I witnessed one poster (on another board) dealing with a John Byrne supporter. He was so aggravated at the fellow who was supporting Byrne that he began digging up all sorts of personal info on the poor guy, including his address, information on whether he was buying or renting, his mother's maiden name and all manner of stuff. It was very uncomfortable to see. Let's not do that. Let's just let the J-Man go off and draw my stuff. Let him do the project in peace. Okay?

[Edited to add the word "or."]


Well thats pretty damn errie to see. Even if the guy likes Byrne as a creator. I mean jesus....theres taking someone on , argueing a point or detailing a point that you disagree with and then theres what you posted. And thats pretty much going to far.

Some here will " challenge " J-Bolt on claims and all. But I just wanna say for the record , I have no intent on diggin up his mothers maiden name or whethor he rents or owns his house. Because it really has nothing to do with the " work " he does.

[Clement]

I find myself agreeing with Tom here. I've been pretty quiet of late, partly because people tend to ignore what I have to say anyway, but partly because I'm just no dang good at ignoring the elephant in the room.

I'm sorry, Jim, but other than the Batmite piece you put up, I just haven't been blown away by your stuff. You've said several times that people are making judgments based on the online ashcan thing and that the ashcan isn't indicative of what you would draw now. Well then, give people (not necessarily us) something that is what you would draw now. Not just pinups, but actual sequential art that effectively tells a story.

You said a few pages back that you average penciling a page a day. But you've never done that. According to you, you could have had twenty-odd issues out just since this thread started. But you didn't. Now you're throwing out a challenge that someone write a story for you to illustrate so people can see what you can really do. No offense, but that's your job. If you want people (again, not necessarily us) to take you seriously, stop talking and start doing. If you do a page a day, then you can have something up on your website next week.

As Tom said a day or so ago, you've claimed to have more than a few employees dedicated to producing your electronic media. But you had a mess with dead links all over it until sk176 offered to do it for free in her spare time. She's doing a darn fine job, but what happened to all those employees? Where is Heather?

Blarg. I know, I know, I'm not helping here. I'll just shut up now.

EDIT: And you kids stay out of my walnut trees! Dang kids...


thank you for saying pretty much exactly what i wanted to say (but in nicer words)

what the hell happened here? did I turn 2 pages at once ? did J-Bolt suddenly put out all those comics he's been talking about for years ? did i miss bombshell's DVD release ?

[OMAR]

I think the issues here are time and privacy. If J-Bolt had all the time in the world, and no concern for his own privacy, and that of his business partners and employees, I'm sure he could explain all his answers in sufficient detail to satisfy even the nosiest busybody fault-finders.

But since he does have a shortage of time, and privacy concerns, he can only give general, answers to some questions and this leads to more detailed and insistant questions from the Inquisitors.

Rather than lose out on J-Bolt's participation here entirely, I hope he'll just scan through and answer the questions, or discuss the topics, that he feels comfortable with and has time for, feeling free to ignore the rest of the thread, and that those who don't get their issues addressed will have the decency to stop asking rather than repeatedly chiming in.

[J-Bolt]

Gail...
It's like many years ago, I used to do telemarketing salesman (yeah... you probably got the annoying phone calls from me too). Well, anyway, I was a good seller who would get my monthly quota within the first 2 weeks, pulling down about $5g's a month + bonus'. So, after that, the bosses started hassling me to do more, FASTER! These assholes would actually sit on my desk, bitching at me to take that sale call I'm on (right then and there) and take it NOW. Naturally, the person at the other end heard this and, besides the fact that my nerves were totally fried, it made my life a living hell, causing me to lose my sales, but growing bleeding ulcers. Hence... I got outta' that freakin' line of work, needless to say, even while the money was good.

Gail... I know that people here have just gotten some tastes of what I do and want more. And I plan on giving them more that even they canb freakin' handle! But, they gotta' lemme' do so, instead of constantly <sitting on my desk> tellin' me to give them drawings NOW! You know what I mean?

There's some really good people here who are being a great help to me (and hopefuly, I'm giving a little help back to some people). I'm just askin' to gimme' some breathin' room to do my art because it what feels good to me: what I was born to do: and you'll SEE results. After all... we're artists... not assembly-line workers. We're all used to working under pressure, but not THIS much pressure, MAN!

You won't be disappointed in what I'm doin' at all, so just gimme' some breathin' room. That's all I ask.

Thanks, Gail.
J-:cool:

Honestly, not trying to be mean here, but I get worse than this every day and I can't think of a single pro who doesn't. It's just water on a duck's back. Or off. Or something.

Gail

[Clement]

You won't be disappointed in what I'm doin' at all, so just gimme' some breathin' room. That's all I ask.


J-:cool:


dude, You've had 3 or 4 years of breathing room.

Unless the people here who are asking to see something are also emailing you and calling you at home, which is what an editor would do, you're really under no pressure at all. In fact, just don't come back till you're done and you won't feel any pressure.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I just wanna say this....J-Bolt odds are you'll never meet some of us. I think ya have to get past the " demands " of us online. I mean your the one ultimately responsible for your work so I will say , were not your ex-bosses at your telemarketing firm sitting on your desk hassling you lol.

Just do what ya can and post when you want. No one here is forcing you not to. Thats just my 2 cents. Do what ya can. ;)

[Gail Simone]

Gail...
It's like many years ago, I used to do telemarketing salesman (yeah... you probably got the annoying phone calls from me too). Well, anyway, I was a good seller who would get my monthly quota within the first 2 weeks, pulling down about $5g's a month + bonus'. So, after that, the bosses started hassling me to do more, FASTER! These assholes would actually sit on my desk, bitching at me to take that sale call I'm on (right then and there) and take it NOW. Naturally, the person at the other end heard this and, besides the fact that my nerves were totally fried, it made my life a living hell, causing me to lose my sales, but growing bleeding ulcers. Hence... I got outta' that freakin' line of work, needless to say, even while the money was good.

Gail... I know that people here have just gotten some tastes of what I do and want more. And I plan on giving them more that even they canb freakin' handle! But, they gotta' lemme' do so, instead of constantly <sitting on my desk> tellin' me to give them drawings NOW! You know what I mean?

There's some really good people here who are being a great help to me (and hopefuly, I'm giving a little help back to some people). I'm just askin' to gimme' some breathin' room to do my art because it what feels good to me: what I was born to do: and you'll SEE results. After all... we're artists... not assembly-line workers. We're all used to working under pressure, but not THIS much pressure, MAN!

You won't be disappointed in what I'm doin' at all, so just gimme' some breathin' room. That's all I ask.

Thanks, Gail.
J-:cool:


Like I say, it's your choice, nobody can make you do anything one way or the other. I'll be honest, I'm pretty ambivalent about grandiose claims of any kind even from the nicest people, until I see the work, and that has nothing to do with you, J-bolt. It's simply that I, and most pros I know, work our tails off and have stuff come out on a regular basis, self-published or otherwise. Tom takes some umbrage because he himself has put everything on the line and made many sacrifices to get his work out, so again, it's just a matter that it would be nice to see your work in a comics store. I spoke with probably two dozen successful screenwriters at the last con I attended, and they tended to be HOPEFUL but REALISTIC about upcoming projects, even self-financed ones. Again, everyone approaches things differently, but these are successful, top-of-the-line screenwriters, and they HOPE for the moon, but are realistic that not everything works out as hoped. A film is a film when it's in the can and people can see it. It's the same with comics.

The industry isn't the same since the internet, and I've heard horrible, awful stuff a thousand times worse than has been said on this thread many, many times about me on the net (and so has almost every net-savvy pro I know). I don't see any reason to challenge you, because I would like to see what you produce without distractions. But realistically, even the top-tier people get horrible reviews sometimes, and unfair critiques, and personal jabs, and disbelief at their claims. It's just how the net is.

That's why, when I read this thread, I don't see it as offensive because I would be crying my eyes out every night if I took every bad comment seriously. But I don't, because I don't. ;-)

Most everyone is being very polite, and keeping any skepticism to themselves. A couple are more openly questioning, but I don't think it's been rude for the most part. You've been equally polite and I don't think it's worth getting upset about if someone is skeptical.

It's your choice, is all. I think everyone wants to see you put out your work and that's ALWAYS the best defense to skepticism.

Best,

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Ya' know, Omar...
You've got one helluva valid point!
Somewhere, many times amongst these sorted pages, I invited everybody to have a group chat so that all questions could be asked/answered and there won't be a need for repetitive questions or questions having nothing to do with relevant subjects pertaining to what anybody does/did again... yet... nobody... answered... such... a... call. What's that tell ya'? It tells me that nobody truly wants the answers in an orderly fashion, set-up to be like a press conference or something (the only comparison I could immediately come up with was a press conference), AND, as a matter of fact, everytime I continue bringing the subject up, the only sound that remains is the crickets chirping because nobody wants to address these issue of actually coordinating an organized chat so that everybody can ask their questions and they can be answered... hence: everybody would come away with the answers they want and a few others they hadn't thought of, but somebody else WOULD think of that question. I'm not afraid of answering questions truthfully. Is everybody who keeps avoiding this ongoing subject afraid of what the answers will be? Tell me! NO! Better yet! Tell everybody else here!

You've all told me more times than I can count, over the years: PUT UP OR SHUT UP! That stands for you too! If you want for their to be an organized (organization was Omar's concern), THEN ORGANIZE ONE... AND I'LL BE THERE... NIGHT OR DAY! We can do this on the Yahoo Instant Messenger or it would be a perfect test-run for Shelly's new LBE site chat.

I'm sure you guys don't have a 24/7 schedule that doesn't allow you to donate a little time to do such a thing. So, organize the who, what, when, where, why and how... and make it organized so that it's not just a jumble of everybody spouting off questions to answer, which is IMPOSSIBLE! Somebody be Norma Rae and get this together and lemme' know when/where. I'm almost always working late-night hours, so just have a 'spokeman' throw some times/places/dates for me and I'll let you know which of those times I can make it.

THEN... You guys can get all you questions answered, possibly being apprised of some things you didn't know before, while getting others confirmed. Either way, we ALL will come out of this with something that we didn't have before going into it.

Now... you can all go about ignoring this again; pretending I didn't say anything about the NEEDED CHAT again; and keep just making ramblings that have all bark with no bit, since they're not being addressed on some type of common ground. Omar... since you're part of this, and was the first to note that this could only lead to mindless melee, I sincerely hope that you'll use your great skills to make sure it DOESN'T... that it becomes a great gathering of peers, friends, and most of all... a group of people who have something to bring to this gathering of artistic opinions to make it into something FANTASTIC! I'm sure you won't mind asking assistance from anyone here, such as Carlton, Gail, Mac and/or anyone else you feel can make it what we want it to be... COMMON GROUND THAT LEAVES US A LITTLE WISER, and I'm sure anyone you ask wil be happy to help instead of just ingnoring you. [Hell... if it all comes out great, we'll even have to create some great membership shirts and other memorabilia in OUR OWN Cafe Shops Store... I LIKE IT!!!... then again, I would... huh?].

If you guys don't want to have it on Y.I.M., I'd suggest that you guys start seeing if it would fit our needs on the newly-remodeled LBE Site Chat. If there's any bugs with the system, go over them with the the great OMINOUS SHELLY to see what can be done to make it fit our needs. Decide who wants to be the Leader of our "Super Drawing Friends" (even though it's my site, I don't have to lead the group chat... just would like to at least be 2nd in command, since I'm Admin), who would be the ones to organize it, who would get everybody's schedules, etc. and make it HAPPEN.

THE FOLLOWING IS JUST FOR FUN, SO THAT EVERYBODY SEES THIS AS JUST BEING MORE FUN THAN ROOT-CANALS:
And just to make it fun for us to do this, we can even create little super-heroes out of our group and make avatars out of ourselves (as super-heroes for this meeting... who knows... we may want to have more, but it would be an exclusive group, with a round "Super-Friend-ish" table at the center of our meeting chat (if "Scandisk-Shelly" would be up to creating especially for it, that is), if possible only, even with a 4-wall surrondings that looks like the "Hall Of Justice"... Instead, it could be... just try this out for size: "The Great Hall Of Creators!" with our own-created bio-pages (using our own comic industry credits, etc. as our attributes), lisiting what we do on it, so that people could e-mail us and vote us as their favorite "Super-Creator!" The ONLY exclusive Super-Creators who can be part of this elite group are those who are active with YABS and in th "Hall Of Creators"... maybe even a few could moderate some stuff with this new LBE site, so to help me keep it current and to everybody's liking. There's just so many reasons and possibilities to do this... but to do it in an enjoyable way for all of us.

Again, all of that is just for fun and I let my imagination run away from me (as you can EASILY tell), but nonetheless, it would at least make this chat into something that we could do while doing that question-answer session. On top of that, we could use it whenever we had any issue which badly needed to be brought up as a group... wouldn't it? Another idea? Another group project? The Comicon project? The possibilities are endless for it and it's something that keeps us in the vein for the reasons we got into what we do to begin with... to create comics... right?

So... get to creating your sercret identity people; do your civic duty for the glory, the honor, for the sheer wedgy of "The Hall Of Creators"! For those of you who are writers and not artists, visa-versa, etc., get with us who are and we'll help you out gladly. You tell me you want to do it and I'll put a general body outline up here for men and women (for those non-artists) to print out and create your own Super-persona to add to the Super-Creator roster.

And if anybody knows how to get secret decoder rings made for us, PLEASE ASK THEM TO DO THIS FOR US!

This is food for thought AGAIN, Folks... and it would answer ALL our problems, in the simple measures, at least!
J-:cool:

I think the issues here are time and privacy. If J-Bolt had all the time in the world, and no concern for his own privacy, and that of his business partners and employees, I'm sure he could explain all his answers in sufficient detail to satisfy even the nosiest busybody fault-finders.

But since he does have a shortage of time, and privacy concerns, he can only give general, answers to some questions and this leads to more detailed and insistant questions from the Inquisitors.

Rather than lose out on J-Bolt's participation here entirely, I hope he'll just scan through and answer the questions, or discuss the topics, that he feels comfortable with and has time for, feeling free to ignore the rest of the thread, and that those who don't get their issues addressed will have the decency to stop asking rather than repeatedly chiming in.

[Gail Simone]

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but my excuse is I just don't have a lot of time for chat rooms, which is why I don't do them very often. But if this is something that you feel strongly aout, I don't see why it can't happen.

I'm flying to an appearance in Austin starting Wednesday til Sunday, so if I'm going to be there it has to either be Monday, Tuesday, or any day after Sunday. So whenever anyone wants to do it is fine with me. It can be done in the CBR chat room if that's easiest.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Clement...
I've always had pressures: pressures from here, trying not to disappoint myself or others... but never to avail: pushing myself harder and puttin' myself in an even greater rut, etc. By the way, I have had calls to my home.

I'm now my own editor and I place a great deal more pressure on myself than I can describe. But, the pressure to put up or shut up doesn't help me anymore than it would you.

So, that's why I'm sayin' that I'm goin' back to basics and doin' my work without partking in anymore of this anti-helpful rhetoric. I thought I was invited here to also socialize and share. Obviously, I was worng.

It's VERY late at night here, and I'm going back to work, just as I always do. Obviously, my words of hopeful wisdon fell on deaf ears. So, I'll just go back to ignoring that which does not help me in the least.

Gail, thank you for your encouraging words, but I don't need to do this. Mac should tell them the Oreo cookie story instead of them going by the "But what have you done for me lately" thing. I don't place everybody by the words/actons of this one person, but it does not show sommeone who is willing to wait. Maybve, Clement should look into going into a supervisor position with a telemaarketing firm.

J-:cool:

dude, You've had 3 or 4 years of breathing room.

Unless the people here who are asking to see something are also emailing you and calling you at home, which is what an editor would do, you're really under no pressure at all. In fact, just don't come back till you're done and you won't feel any pressure.

[J-Bolt]

That's what I'm trying to the absolute point of exhaution, My Friend.
Thanks,
J-:)

I just wanna say this....J-Bolt odds are you'll never meet some of us. I think ya have to get past the " demands " of us online. I mean your the one ultimately responsible for your work so I will say , were not your ex-bosses at your telemarketing firm sitting on your desk hassling you lol.

Just do what ya can and post when you want. No one here is forcing you not to. Thats just my 2 cents. Do what ya can. ;)

[J-Bolt]

Thanks, Gail...
That's my way of thinking and doing... is to put my money where my mouth is. Trust me, when I say you'll see my work out there soon. I can't say a date, no matter how badly I want to (we haven't scheduled on yet). But, uou'll see it there.

And, anytime, you need me working with you... you just lemme' know. How about suggesting to DC that we do the BatManite mini together and see if it goes to a full series? You tell me what it'll take on my part and we'll work on making it so.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

Like I say, it's your choice, nobody can make you do anything one way or the other. I'll be honest, I'm pretty ambivalent about grandiose claims of any kind even from the nicest people, until I see the work, and that has nothing to do with you, J-bolt. It's simply that I, and most pros I know, work our tails off and have stuff come out on a regular basis, self-published or otherwise. Tom takes some umbrage because he himself has put everything on the line and made many sacrifices to get his work out, so again, it's just a matter that it would be nice to see your work in a comics store. I spoke with probably two dozen successful screenwriters at the last con I attended, and they tended to be HOPEFUL but REALISTIC about upcoming projects, even self-financed ones. Again, everyone approaches things differently, but these are successful, top-of-the-line screenwriters, and they HOPE for the moon, but are realistic that not everything works out as hoped. A film is a film when it's in the can and people can see it. It's the same with comics.

The industry isn't the same since the internet, and I've heard horrible, awful stuff a thousand times worse than has been said on this thread many, many times about me on the net (and so has almost every net-savvy pro I know). I don't see any reason to challenge you, because I would like to see what you produce without distractions. But realistically, even the top-tier people get horrible reviews sometimes, and unfair critiques, and personal jabs, and disbelief at their claims. It's just how the net is.

That's why, when I read this thread, I don't see it as offensive because I would be crying my eyes out every night if I took every bad comment seriously. But I don't, because I don't. ;-)

Most everyone is being very polite, and keeping any skepticism to themselves. A couple are more openly questioning, but I don't think it's been rude for the most part. You've been equally polite and I don't think it's worth getting upset about if someone is skeptical.

It's your choice, is all. I think everyone wants to see you put out your work and that's ALWAYS the best defense to skepticism.

Best,

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Now, if Gail's BUSY schedule is willing to try for a chat, what's everybody else's excuse?
J-:rolleyes:

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but my excuse is I just don't have a lot of time for chat rooms, which is why I don't do them very often. But if this is something that you feel strongly aout, I don't see why it can't happen.

I'm flying to an appearance in Austin starting Wednesday til Sunday, so if I'm going to be there it has to either be Monday, Tuesday, or any day after Sunday. So whenever anyone wants to do it is fine with me. It can be done in the CBR chat room if that's easiest.

Gail

[Matt Algren]

That doesn't read like a suggestion, it reads like a demand. Who are you to order J-Bolt around?

J-Bolt isn't here to answer those kind of intrusive questions and speculations about his operations or personnel. He's here to make friends and get some friendly advice. Not to take orders and not to jump through hoops. If you can't help but be confrontational, could you please just stop posting to or about him at all?

That would be great, thanks.Oh no, I've offended OMAR. How ever will I live with myself?

---

J-Bolt, I agree with you. If posting is getting that much in the way of producing your work, you're smart to think about posting less. I'm not saying I want to see less of you here; that's not it. But I do think it's reasonable to cut out something that's affecting your output that much.

[EdContradictory]

That doesn't read like a suggestion, it reads like a demand. Who are you to order J-Bolt around?

J-Bolt isn't here to answer those kind of intrusive questions and speculations about his operations or personnel. He's here to make friends and get some friendly advice. Not to take orders and not to jump through hoops. If you can't help but be confrontational, could you please just stop posting to or about him at all?

That would be great, thanks.
Dear God in heaven, you are the most annoying person I've ever met online.

And I've met some really annoying people before you.

[Lester C.]

I want to talk about when lighting strikes the asscan. I don't think you should swipe, ah that is to say emulate, Crossgen product template. That business/product model may have made sense when you began production of that work six years ago, but it didn't exactly work for CG so you may wish to change your strategy. Then again Rich Johnson is always looking for something to add to his swap file.


I don't remember and I've got work to do. This going back to being challegend is getting to be a headache again.
J-:mad:

Now, if Gail's BUSY schedule is willing to try for a chat, what's everybody else's excuse?
J-:rolleyes:

[TomStillwell]

I'm sure you guys don't have a 24/7 schedule that doesn't allow you to donate a little time to do such a thing.

I can't speak for other people but I don't have time for a online chat.

I have a regular job, 9-5, working for 200+ lawyers. We're currently switching floors within our building so I need to not only do my own job but assist the move.

My lunch hours and train commutes to and from work are consumed by writing for the four different comic projects I'm involved in. One of them I'm partnered with Mac on. Another is my ongoing Honor Brigade comic, which I'm about to have distributed through Diamond. The remaining are projects I'm pitching to Image.

When I get home I'm a father and husband with all that entails. Dishes to do, bills to pay, and stories to be read before bedtime. Once the munchkin is sleeping it's time to talk with my wife and give her the attention she deserves.

Finally "Me" time rolls around at 8:30PM or so. I use that time usually for more comic writing but it also involves filling all the orders I get off my website or other business related stuff. If I'm not feeling motivated I hop unto City of Heroes to work off my frustrations, socialize, and have some fun.

Bedtime comes and I have to slap an oxygen mask to my face and hope that eventually I'll get used to living with severe apnea. The hope that I can wake up and not be exhausted shines brightly in me.

The alarm goes off at 5:30AM and I do it all again.

So no, not all of us have time to sit in a chat room with someone who, by all indications, isn't going to be honest even if asked questions directly.

And yes, Gail nails it correctly, as she's usually prone to do. I take umberage that you come here and make post after post about how everything in the world conspires to keep you from your comic Nirvana.

Bullshit.

If you were serious about doing comics they'd be done no matter what happened.

Cut off my hands and I'll find a way to write comics. No amount of critism from anyone will stop me from writing. No amount of failures will discourage me. No obstacle deters me. Nothing that's posted about me on an internet site keeps me from working.

I'm far from unique. Anyone who is successful in comics is the same way. It takes hard work and sacrifice to make it.

To paraphrase Tom Hanks "The hard is what makes it great. If it were easy everyone would do it."

So stop trying to pin the lack of production on other people and things. Instead channel your energy into just getting it done.

The people here at YABS have given you breaks that most people aren't handed. Don't waste them.

[MacQuarrie]

As I promised, I'm not going to challenge you or investigate anything you claim or undermine your efforts in any way. But I am going to make a few observations about what you posted here and maybe offer a little friendly advice. Take it or leave it. Don't feel any need to explain or clarify anything I say, just realize that I'm simply describing my own honest reactions when I read your post. Maybe it'll help. Maybe not.
People...
I offered to do something fun (this comic book group project), while doing my own work, so that you can see my work while we can have that cameraderie (sp?) without singin' freakin' "cumbaya." Mac knows I'm working, just as Carlton, Patrick, and others.
J, I think the best thing you can do is concentrate on LBC stuff, instead of inventing new projects and "challenge" comics to take part in. The YABS comic project is structured in such a way that you can take pages from your own book and run them in our sampler for promotional purposes and also share our booth at whatever convention we decide to show at. No extra work needed. As much fun as this challenge comic sounds, it's a distraction for all of us; there's no way I can squeeze it in. I'm having enough of a hard time finding time to draw the comics I've already committed to.

Heather stopped doing the webmastering and I'm taking it over, letting the other 3 people go to other departments. And, before somebody asks, no, I'm not going to give an employee roster of who works for me). I never claimed anymore than 2 - 3 dozen worldwide, mostly in an independant contractor capacity, except for those on the film. Shelly did a fantastic job on the new site and now she's teaching me what changes were put into place, between both our busy schedules.
This is the kind of thing that makes people distrust you, J. Unless you are independently wealthy or have a significant income from another source, there is just no way that LBE can possibly be supporting the number of employees you claim, not when the only visible revenue-stream is the CafePress store.

Now, since I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and not challenging you or calling you out, I'm going to assume that the "2-3 dozen employees" you mention are not actually drawing salaries; they are people who have agreed to work with you in varying capacities at different times, and are basically "standing by" until such time as the projects are ready for them to work on and the money is there to pay them.

This is not at all uncommon for small companies seeking investment money; you want to put the best possible face on things, so definitions are stretched as far as possible; freelancers become "independent contractors" become "employees" without any actual change in their pay or position.

Thing is, we all find it incredible that you didn't fire your web team as soon as Shelly showed you the first page of her version of the site. Clearly, they weren't doing the job. Your site sat dead for over a year; it continued to allow access to sensitive information that you had withdrawn from public scrutiny; it had broken links pointing to your prior domain name; it had broken security, allowing anyone to access the "members only" areas without paying... If you moved these people to other tasks, you are being woefully negligent. They should have been fired and then sued for damages.

It's things like this that make people doubt you. Either you didn't really have 3 people in your web-design team, or they weren't paid employees, or your business sense is such that you would retain employees who have done your company substantial and lasting harm, or maybe you're just too nice a guy for your own good. No matter how you slice it, it doesn't look good for you.

Now... excuse me but I have freakin' work to do and don't find it necessary to start defending myself again, when I thought we were all past that to begin with, which is why I spent so much time on here instead of my work, costing me valuable time, and got my hope up that this was past ALL of us, but I thought "friends" were worth that. I do have friends here. Those who are still in their own doubting mode will just have to watch what comes about next.
J, you don't have to defend yourself. All you have to do is prove the doubters wrong. The way to do that is to ignore everything that's posted and just keep grinding away at the comic and talking to the right people about getting the film going. Prove your detractors wrong by delivering the product.

There is nobody here who can harm your project or prevent you from moving forward on it apart from the power you give them. The damage that was done previously was largely your own fault; you made claims and told people to check them, then said that their checking had caused damage to you. But you posted the claims. If you had stayed on-task and not jumped the gun in announcing casting before the performer's representatives were prepared to respond, those questions would not have ben asked.

The offer to do a group chat wasn't taken up on by anybody here, which would've GREATLY kept all this crap from happening, but alas...
I said I would be there. I need to know the time and date before I can commit to anything, but I will make every effort to be part of the chat. But remember that you're inviting people from around the world. 6:00 PM here is 4:00 AM there. Finding a convenient time to chat with people in Australia, Singapore, Scotland, California, Quebec and Brooklyn all at once might be difficult.

In any case, even if the chat never happens, the comic can happen, but it's all up to you. Just keep plugging away at the pencils and writing, and don't get caught up in arguing your case on some silly message board. A printed comic in hand is a better argument than anything you can say here. I really hope you can do everything you're trying to do.

Good luck.

[Gail Simone]

Clement...
I've always had pressures: pressures from here, trying not to disappoint myself or others... but never to avail: pushing myself harder and puttin' myself in an even greater rut, etc. By the way, I have had calls to my home.

I'm now my own editor and I place a great deal more pressure on myself than I can describe. But, the pressure to put up or shut up doesn't help me anymore than it would you.

So, that's why I'm sayin' that I'm goin' back to basics and doin' my work without partking in anymore of this anti-helpful rhetoric. I thought I was invited here to also socialize and share. Obviously, I was worng.

It's VERY late at night here, and I'm going back to work, just as I always do. Obviously, my words of hopeful wisdon fell on deaf ears. So, I'll just go back to ignoring that which does not help me in the least.

Gail, thank you for your encouraging words, but I don't need to do this. Mac should tell them the Oreo cookie story instead of them going by the "But what have you done for me lately" thing. I don't place everybody by the words/actons of this one person, but it does not show sommeone who is willing to wait. Maybve, Clement should look into going into a supervisor position with a telemaarketing firm.

J-:cool:

Of course you don't NEED to do this. No one NEEDS to do this. And I also think it's wrong to reject everyone because a couple people voiced some skepticism. No one's in control of anyone else here, but it does seem to me that most everyone is being polite and open-minded. Why not focus on that instead of a couple naysayers?

Gail

[Gail Simone]

I want to talk about when lighting strikes the asscan. I don't think you should swipe, ah that is to say emulate, Crossgen product template. That business/product model may have made sense when you began production of that work six years ago, but it didn't exactly work for CG so you may wish to change your strategy. Then again Rich Johnson is always looking for something to add to his swap file.

Explain, please. I don't get what you're saying.

The Ashcan model is hardly a CrossGen invention and it's been used successfully by many companies. What are you getting at?

Gail

[Gail Simone]

Honestly, I do ask that everyone be civil. I realize that there is a lot of history here, but, well...here's how I see this. First, being polite is just good manners. But secondly, I think it's a lot more interesting to see what J's up to, and I enjoyed seeing his new (much evolved) art here and am happy that SK and he are getting the website going. Why not just see what happens? Obviously, we're all going to disagree on occasion but I personally am hoping to see J succeed, and while I often disagree with his comments about how the industry works, I'm considering this a fresh start and keeping an open mind, BECAUSE I'm curious and because I bear LBE no ill will. If there's a Bombshell movie and a comic, no one will be more delighted than I.

In short, I think it's interesting to see the process, and as long as everyone stays civil we'll continue to be able to, hopefully.

Best,

Gail

[Lester C.]

I don't have a scanner but if you have the first issue of Scion, Sigil, Meridian, or Mystic you can compare the seventh page, the one labled ac07jpg, to the first pages of those books that were published by Crossgen.

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/wls_ashcan/index.html

Explain, please. I don't get what you're saying.

The Ashcan model is hardly a CrossGen invention and it's been used successfully by many companies. What are you getting at?

Gail

[Red Jack]

Crossgen's problem was that they over extended themselves and so couldn't support the larger than expected costs they subsequently incurred. If they'd stuck to the original plan and behaved more conservatively, I have no doubt that they'd still be around. (Ah, Negation. The loss of thee does tear my very soul, still.)

Eyes bigger than the stomach as my ole pappy used to say. (Actually he's not that old and he still says it. And he hates being called "Pappy.")

If you're talking about lifting a "universe template" or even a page layout from an established company or property, well, if you shut that down, you'd be shutting down about half the comics being produced.

Just for the record, as one of those who busts his ass to get his product to market, I'm in the Stillwell camp (while not quite beleiving that something like this has created camps). Still, Gail's right. Politeness counts only slightly more than an open mind.

Or is that less?

[Lester C.]

Crossgen's problem was that they over extended themselves and so couldn't support the larger than expected costs they subsequently incurred. If they'd stuck to the original plan and behaved more conservatively, I have no doubt that they'd still be around. (Ah, Negation. The loss of thee does tear my very soul, still.)

Eyes bigger than the stomach as my ole pappy used to say. (Actually he's not that old and he still says it. And he hates being called "Pappy.")

If you're talking about lifting a "universe template" or even a page layout from an established company or property, well, if you shut that down, you'd be shutting down about half the comics being produced.

Just for the record, as one of those who busts his ass to get his product to market, I'm in the Stillwell camp (while not quite beleiving that something like this has created camps). Still, Gail's right. Politeness counts only slightly more than an open mind.

Or is that less?
Can you look at the seventh page and tell me that I'm not on to something?

[TomStillwell]

Just for the record, as one of those who busts his ass to get his product to market, I'm in the Stillwell camp (while not quite beleiving that something like this has created camps).

One time, at Stillwell Camp...

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Crossgen died in the same ways ECW died in 2001. The Owner was smart in some aspects of business ( Mark A. ....Paul Heyman ) and really dumb in others. The people were loyal and the die hard fans were loyal to the product by expansion killed them both. ;)

[Lester C.]

Crossgen died in the same ways ECW died in 2001. The Owner was smart in some aspects of business ( Mark A. ....Paul Heyman ) and really dumb in others. The people were loyal and the die hard fans were loyal to the product by expansion killed them both. ;)
Um, no. What killed ECW, and WCW, was the loss of their respective television deals.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Um, no. What killed ECW, and WCW, was the loss of their respective television deals.


It killed WCW but the moment Heyman signed the TNN/ECW deal , he nailed the coffin shut. ECW was pretty much on the brink in 1999. They had loans ect ect to do PPV's and make it.

By signing the TV deal , Heyman pretty much forced himself to do expensive tapings and not recieve 1 penny from TNN. For a cash strapped ECW this hurt them.

It got so bad in 2000 , months before TNN/Viacom yanked em off the air , that Heyman started cutting the lighting expenses. By mid to late 2000 ECW workers were weeks without pay. Lance Storm got bounced some checks and many prayed a USA Network deal would save them.

ECW needed a cable network to at least pay them to air or fit the bills for tapings. That didn't happen and ECW limped to its death. :(

[Lester C.]

It killed WCW but the moment Heyman signed the TNN/ECW deal , he nailed the coffin shut. ECW was pretty much on the brink in 1999. They had loans ect ect to do PPV's and make it.

By signing the TV deal , Heyman pretty much forced himself to do expensive tapings and not recieve 1 penny from TNN. For a cash strapped ECW this hurt them.

It got so bad in 2000 , months before TNN/Viacom yanked em off the air , that Heyman started cutting the lighting expenses. By mid to late 2000 ECW workers were weeks without pay. Lance Storm got bounced some checks and many prayed a USA Network deal would save them.

ECW needed a cable network to at least pay them to air or fit the bills for tapings. That didn't happen and ECW limped to its death. :(
All that is true but the final nail in the coffin is when their friends;) The WWE left USA for TNN which was broadcasting ECW on friday nights. It was like the next week when Paul then sold his company to Vince.

[Red Jack]

Crossgen died in the same ways ECW died in 2001. The Owner was smart in some aspects of business ( Mark A. ....Paul Heyman ) and really dumb in others. The people were loyal and the die hard fans were loyal to the product by expansion killed them both. ;)

yeah. i said that.

[Matt Algren]

Oh my God. Not everything is about wrestling!



-ahem-

I feel much better now.

Carry on.

[Lester C.]

Oh my God. Not everything is about wrestling!



-ahem-

I feel much better now.

Carry on.
It is when me and Superecwfan1 share the are in the same thread.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Oh my God. Not everything is about wrestling!



-ahem-

I feel much better now.

Carry on.


To that I have to say....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O792B0OzbiY

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I posted this earlier and the site went all to hell. Its true that Vince signed and killed ECW's TV Deal. But McMahon to his credit talked Viacom into giving ECW a month longer to find a TV home.

Whats funny is the ECW Bankruptcy was Acclaim ( Video game/Comics publisher) who contested that Paul Heyman & Tommy Dreamer sold a 5% stake in ECW. Is funny that ECW could have been owned by the same people who do Turok: Dinosaur Hunter if things had fallen their way. :p

[Gail Simone]

I don't see how that relates to walnuts.

Gail

[TomStillwell]

Life is like a box of walnuts. Or something.

[Gail Simone]

Carlton, you have some creds, right? I saw some stuff on the internet but I'm not familiar with the books themselves.

Not trying to sound suspicious AT ALL, just always curious to hear about books people have worked on. It's nice to know who is in the community!

Gail

[Lester C.]

I don't see how that relates to walnuts.

Gail

Gail that one easy. All of the Yabsters that post on a daily basis are a little bit nutty, with the sole exception of Gilda. Even my hero Maquarrie loses it now and then, and he's the person I want to grow into but fear I never will.

[Lester C.]

Carlton, you have some creds, right? I saw some stuff on the internet but I'm not familiar with the books themselves.

Not trying to sound suspicious AT ALL, just always curious to hear about books people have worked on. It's nice to know who is in the community!

Gail
Don't forget my fellow Illinoisan(I hope to god that's a word) Tom Stillwell. Unlike J-bolt you can actually purchase Tom's comics online for a very reasonable price.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Gail that one easy. All of the Yabsters that post on a daily basis are a little bit nutty, with the sole exception of Gilda. Even my hero Maquarrie loses it now and then, and he's the person I want to grow into but fear I never will.


I only do what the voices in my head tell me to do this week. :evilsmile

[Gail Simone]

I don't know, I think it's more fun to have J-Bolt here talking about his projects than have him elsewhere fighting.

So can we please just let this thread be a neutral zone?

Thanks!

Gail

[Crowley]

No problem. That's what I'm working on, amongst other things. Post up here some of your favorite painted covers... eh?
J-
all you have to do is clink the link in my sig and browse my gallery.
I've been too busy lately to participate in chats and call loved ones, but here's my industry cred thus far:
http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=4121

punch up a script and get an artist man.
If I have wiggle room in my schedule I'll help you out.
I'm sure others will too. SK helped me get my website together and three months later I grabbed professional work. Then I started getting steady Graphic Design and Illustration freelance... don't waste the oppurtunity she's affording you!


Why don't you do a Bombshell adaption for the upcoming movie? that's how books get optioned for movies... Look at Hack/Slash, 30 Days a Nights, and Road to Perdition.

[J-Bolt]

I have made PLENTY of sacrifices all through my life, for my career goals and still continue doing so. Even when I've accomplished all that I'm working on, I'll always sacrifice, ungtil I'm satisfied wtih where I'm at.
I've sacrificed my health, my family, my morals, everything I can think of just so I can succeed at what I set out to do when I was a kid through adulthood. I did so by studying what made others successful and what made them fail, using both those to get the accomplishments I have... and will never stop. One thing I WON'T do is steal others' ideas (or however I was accused of), even though such things HAVE been done to me... and NO, I won't go into details there, either (and people can assume until their hearts content on that subject).
I still make great sacrifices to the extent that I sometimes feel like an artistic whore with some of the freelance work I do that I don't feel comfortable with in order to pay my bills and my employees, keeping my company running as it is. I'm even on a pinnacle of doing a piece for a client, which isn't so bad, which will get me the final amount of money I need, before the National press comes out to aid, because I like being overly prepared.
So, for those of you who don't feel I'd paid my dues or currently pay my dues, you are SO, FREAKIN' wrong!
I like having the friends/peers here and has hoping to be able to have great conversations with those friends/peers, but I'll just have to see how that goes as time goes by.
If you don't believe what I say, you're wearing blinders because there's more than just one way to do things... and I do many different ways until I find something that works for me. When it does, I stick with it until I find another way to go about it.
If you have low thoughts about me for that, you're the one who was to get over it... not me.
I need to get back to work now, as there aren't as many friends to just 'cut loose' here with, as I thought.
J-:cool:

[Gail Simone]

I have made PLENTY of sacrifices all through my life, for my career goals and still continue doing so. Even when I've accomplished all that I'm working on, I'll always sacrifice, ungtil I'm satisfied wtih where I'm at.
I've sacrificed my health, my family, my morals, everything I can think of just so I can succeed at what I set out to do when I was a kid through adulthood. I did so by studying what made others successful and what made them fail, using both those to get the accomplishments I have... and will never stop. One thing I WON'T do is steal others' ideas (or however I was accused of), even though such things HAVE been done to me... and NO, I won't go into details there, either (and people can assume until their hearts content on that subject).
I still make great sacrifices to the extent that I sometimes feel like an artistic whore with some of the freelance work I do that I don't feel comfortable with in order to pay my bills and my employees, keeping my company running as it is. I'm even on a pinnacle of doing a piece for a client, which isn't so bad, which will get me the final amount of money I need, before the National press comes out to aid, because I like being overly prepared.
So, for those of you who don't feel I'd paid my dues or currently pay my dues, you are SO, FREAKIN' wrong!
I like having the friends/peers here and has hoping to be able to have great conversations with those friends/peers, but I'll just have to see how that goes as time goes by.
If you don't believe what I say, you're wearing blinders because there's more than just one way to do things... and I do many different ways until I find something that works for me. When it does, I stick with it until I find another way to go about it.
If you have low thoughts about me for that, you're the one who was to get over it... not me.
I need to get back to work now, as there aren't as many friends to just 'cut loose' here with, as I thought.
J-:cool:

It's your choice, J, but honest to god, this is such lightweight stuff I barely even see why it's upsetting. There's a thousand times worse stuff than this about comics pros every day all over the net.

Honestly, relax...most everyone here is rooting for you to put out a successful product and seem very open. No one wants to make you feel bad.

Gail

[mortari]

Don't forget my fellow Illinoisan(I hope to god that's a word) Tom Stillwell. Unlike J-bolt you can actually purchase Tom's comics online for a very reasonable price.

I'm glad you mentioned that. I forgot to buy it at WWC. I'll go off now and fix that.

[Gail Simone]

Guys, I'm asking everyone. J-bolt obviously has a long history with the posters here, including me, and most of it is bad. I don't blame him for being a bit sensitive, particularly to charges that we've aired many many times.

Everyone just chill and I'm sure we'll have more fun that way without falling into the same old routine, okay?

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Thanks. I'm trying... it just has to be a 2-way street, though.
J-

Guys, I'm asking everyone. J-bolt obviously has a long history with the posters here, including me, and most of it is bad. I don't blame him for being a bit sensitive, particularly to charges that we've aired many many times.

Everyone just chill and I'm sure we'll have more fun that way without falling into the same old routine, okay?

Gail

[TomStillwell]

Don't forget my fellow Illinoisan(I hope to god that's a word) Tom Stillwell. You can actually purchase Tom's comics online for a very reasonable price.

Right you are Lester and thanks for the plug. You lucky Chicagoans can even walk into Graham Crackers, Chicago Comics or if you're up on the North Side there's Comix Revolution in Evanston, right near Northwestern University. They all have the first issue available.

I'll be sending them the second issue as soon as I get my next print order. Wizard World Chicago nearly sucked me dry of comics. I'm holding copies in reserve to meet my mail orders.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Okay, I'll say nothing more that might cause a fracas. Unless those guys start talking wrestling again. Then I might have to go all Macho Man Randy Savage on someone! OH YEAH!! CAN YOU DIG IT?!!

So, J-Bolt, the floor is your's to do with as you please. Wow us with some work. You may want to even join us on the YABS project we're all working on. Mac and I are happily chugging away on our story. It will be a good time.

And for Heaven's sake don't pass on the chance to have a really good letterer do work for FREE. That is extremely generous. A decent letterer is not cheap. Get that man a story!

[MacQuarrie]

Thanks. I'm trying... it just has to be a 2-way street, though.
J-
You're right, it does.

Let's be up-front here.

We have a history. We can go through the whole "who said what" catalog, but there's no point in it. I challenged a lot of things you said, you countered. I and others posted on your forums under assumed identities in order to continue to challenge you and refute your statements. People have yanked your chain and toyed with you in various ways. You're right to be suspicious.

I'll be blunt, as usual. I think some of your comic ideas are extremely viable... if you are open to suggestions and constructive criticism. When you came back, that appeared to be the case. Let's try to keep it that way.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not going to spend my time fact-checking you or attempting to contact anybody or trying to disprove anything you post. At the same time, if I think you're wrong, I'll tell you why. If I think you're misrepresenting something, or misquoting or misunderstanding something, I'll tell you so. I'm not going to rubberstamp anything you (or anybody else) says.

Now if it happens that you say something I think is a bit of hyperbole or spin or just an attempt to whitewash a bad thing or to dress up a good thing to make it sound better, I'll probably just let it pass... unless it seems like something that could mislead somebody or blow up in your face. I'll try to do it as positively as I can. If you're putting lipstick on a pig, I'm not going to say anything until you ask me to kiss it.

I can't speak for anybody else; that's between you and them. For me, as long as you're carrying on the conversation and producing the work, I'm in your corner. I want you to succeed.

If you want my advice, I'd say just leave the hype at home. You don't need to puff up your project with talk about employees and offices. Frankly, it's more impressive if it's just you working by yourself and making it happen.

Telling us that you had three web-designers building your old site is not very impressive; it's actually the opposite. It says you hired three people who didn't know what they were doing, who ripped you off and damaged your business. If it was actually your nephew and his two friends working on your site as a class project and they flaked out at the end of the semester, it doesn't help you at all to try to pass them off as your staff.

On the other hand, if you're honest and realistic, there are a ton of people who will be glad to help you, the way Shelly is right now.

As you know, I teach Sunday School. That jewish carpenter had some pretty good advice that I think applies here:

"When someone invites you to dinner, don't take the place of honor. Somebody more important than you might have been invited by the host. Then he'll come and call out in front of everybody, 'You're in the wrong place. The place of honor belongs to this man.' Red-faced, you'll have to make your way to the very last table, the only place left. When you're invited to dinner, go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, 'Friend, come up to the front.' That will give the dinner guests something to talk about! What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." (Luke 7:8-14, The Message)

[Gail Simone]

Was the Jewish carpenter Morrie Fleckman?

Gail

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Okay, I'll say nothing more that might cause a fracas. Unless those guys start talking wrestling again. Then I might have to go all Macho Man Randy Savage on someone! OH YEAH!! CAN YOU DIG IT?!!



Macho Man is so 80's. I'm for the Rated R Superstar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlf34xJcV64


He stands for Live Sex Celebrations. :p

[howyadoin]

Why don't you do a Bombshell adaption for the upcoming movie? that's how books get optioned for movies... Look at Hack/Slash, 30 Days a Nights, and Road to Perdition.Well, 30 Days isn't such a good example. It was a much-rejected movie script before it became a comic.

[Crowley]

Well, 30 Days isn't such a good example. It was a much-rejected movie script before it became a comic.
oh that's right!

thanks for the correction.

[EdContradictory]

Was the Jewish carpenter Morrie Fleckman?

Gail
You tell Morrie that f-ing table he made me is all wobbly!

[Lester C.]

You tell Morrie that f-ing table he made me is all wobbly!
I'm hard pressed to think of a more painful place to have splinters.:eek:

[Dreadstar]

While reading some of the posts in here over the past week, something kept nagging at the back of my brain, trying to get out. I was reminded of someone and I just could NOT put my finger on who it was. then, after reading the last page a few minutes ago, it hit me: Norm Crosby.

[Gail Simone]

While reading some of the posts in here over the past week, something kept nagging at the back of my brain, trying to get out. I was reminded of someone and I just could NOT put my finger on who it was. then, after reading the last page a few minutes ago, it hit me: Norm Crosby.

Could HE plane a door?

Gail

[TomStillwell]

No, but he might plain a door.

[Matt Algren]

Just a mite, though.

[Gail Simone]

You both deserve beatings.

Gail

[Dreadstar]

I think Norm just adores planes.

[J-Bolt]

OK…
Everybody has put in their opinion and has said they want to do their part in making sure that the Lightning Bolt Comics titles can be made into a success… and I’ve thought of a way that this can be done.
I just came home a bad fall that ended me up in the hospital, and almost brought me home in a wheelchair. The good news is that, I didn’t and, after about 2 or so weeks of recovery, I’ll better than I ever was.
This seriously gave me an epiphany on how you guys can help me to make this into something that EVERYBODY can put his or her name on. If you don’t want to be involved, that’s fine too, because I’ve just been given a LEGIT offer from someone, to give me the money I need for the movie and to go into publishing right away, just by painting him a nice big Vamiperella piece. So, if you guys want to take part in this, and sincerely want to “help me” make this comic a success with me, I’m sure you’ll take my idea seriously.
First off: Gail, what name do you want to use, while you’re under the exclusive contract with we-know-who and do you want to take part before I go into the details of my plan.
I’m putting the inked page 1 for BombShell #1 at the bottom of this post, but here’s what I suggest for everyone to take part: There’s some of you who are established and just want to do this to help me. For the rest of you, who want to make a name for yourself in a published piece of work, I’ll follow whatever Mac suggests so that I can get the most out of the comics’ exposure as quickly as possible, as far as possible.
These credits will differ per page. For example Joe Blow may inks 4 – 5, John Loon 6 – 20, etc. Likewise, the other sections may go likewise. This gives everybody a shot at making a book into something that different readers like for different readers. Know what I mean?
The credits in the front page will go as follows:
1. Writer: J-Bolt + ? (including Plot & dialogue)
2. Pencils: J-Bolt
3. Inks: J-Bolt + ?
4. Color Artist – (not colorist or separator because my company’s unique method makes it stand out above others that sounds pit and is well-received). SFX (Special Effects) is another department that can be handled by someone else to make the panels really look like stop-motion photo realism, when done right and is given credit for it).
5. Letterer
6. Assistant Editor
7. Editor
8. Editor-In-Chief: J-Bolt
9. Cover Artist: DEFENITELY needs to get a page credit.
10. Subscription Editor: Timothy Bedgood (needs a small mention to push for people to buy their copies direct from us).

SPECIAL THANKS TO: This section is needed for whoever impacted a particular artist and/or story which inspired us in this issue.

If you think of anything else we need to put in these issues, by all means, lemme’ know because those hours on a backboard/neckbrace certainly gave me time to think how we can utilize what you guys have told me to make crap successful and I’ll immediately be working on them the moment I finish this painting with this client and work out the payment to get these things done, starting with When Lighting Strikes #1 and BombShell #1.
By the way… any of you guys get me an helluva printing deal of less than 25 cets each 40 pages with the cover beginning glossy full color for 25,000 each?
If you guys like this idea and you think we can make it work, maybe we can work it into doing a BombShell comic/Movie Ashcan, to start fresh, so that people care fresh with my new stuff, not having it shot down with old styles.
Lemme’ Know,
J-;)

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/P01.jpghttp://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/P01.jpg

[Gail Simone]

Wow, J-bolt, I'm really sorry to hear about this fall. It sounds AWFUL!

Thank goodness you're gonna be okay, though. YIKES!

Hope you feel better soon.

Gail

[TomStillwell]

You both deserve beatings.

Gail

THANK YOU, MA'AM!!! MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?!

[Matt Algren]

Sorry to hear about your fall, J-Bolt. Hope you get back on your feet real soon.

[Clement]

OK…
Everybody has put in their opinion and has said they want to do their part in making sure that the Lightning Bolt Comics titles can be made into a success… and I’ve thought of a way that this can be done.
I just came home a bad fall that ended me up in the hospital, and almost brought me home in a wheelchair. The good news is that, I didn’t and, after about 2 or so weeks of recovery, I’ll better than I ever was.
This seriously gave me an epiphany on how you guys can help me to make this into something that EVERYBODY can put his or her name on. If you don’t want to be involved, that’s fine too, because I’ve just been given a LEGIT offer from someone, to give me the money I need for the movie and to go into publishing right away, just by painting him a nice big Vamiperella piece. So, if you guys want to take part in this, and sincerely want to “help me” make this comic a success with me, I’m sure you’ll take my idea seriously.
First off: Gail, what name do you want to use, while you’re under the exclusive contract with we-know-who and do you want to take part before I go into the details of my plan.
I’m putting the inked page 1 for BombShell #1 at the bottom of this post, but here’s what I suggest for everyone to take part: There’s some of you who are established and just want to do this to help me. For the rest of you, who want to make a name for yourself in a published piece of work, I’ll follow whatever Mac suggests so that I can get the most out of the comics’ exposure as quickly as possible, as far as possible.
These credits will differ per page. For example Joe Blow may inks 4 – 5, John Loon 6 – 20, etc. Likewise, the other sections may go likewise. This gives everybody a shot at making a book into something that different readers like for different readers. Know what I mean?
The credits in the front page will go as follows:
1. Writer: J-Bolt + ? (including Plot & dialogue)
2. Pencils: J-Bolt
3. Inks: J-Bolt + ?
4. Color Artist – (not colorist or separator because my company’s unique method makes it stand out above others that sounds pit and is well-received). SFX (Special Effects) is another department that can be handled by someone else to make the panels really look like stop-motion photo realism, when done right and is given credit for it).
5. Letterer
6. Assistant Editor
7. Editor
8. Editor-In-Chief: J-Bolt
9. Cover Artist: DEFENITELY needs to get a page credit.
10. Subscription Editor: Timothy Bedgood (needs a small mention to push for people to buy their copies direct from us).

SPECIAL THANKS TO: This section is needed for whoever impacted a particular artist and/or story which inspired us in this issue.

If you think of anything else we need to put in these issues, by all means, lemme’ know because those hours on a backboard/neckbrace certainly gave me time to think how we can utilize what you guys have told me to make crap successful and I’ll immediately be working on them the moment I finish this painting with this client and work out the payment to get these things done, starting with When Lighting Strikes #1 and BombShell #1.
By the way… any of you guys get me an helluva printing deal of less than 25 cets each 40 pages with the cover beginning glossy full color for 25,000 each?
If you guys like this idea and you think we can make it work, maybe we can work it into doing a BombShell comic/Movie Ashcan, to start fresh, so that people care fresh with my new stuff, not having it shot down with old styles.
Lemme’ Know,
J-;)





Have you seen Hussle and Flow? There's a scene I really like, it takes place in the kitchen at Key's house. Key (Anthony Anderson) tells Djay (Terrence Howard) that in the world, there's 2 kind of people, People who talk the talk, and peole who walk the walk, but sometimes, people who talk the talk will try to get people who walk the walk to do the walking for them.


Stop having epiphanys, stop having "ideas", stop planning, stop talking and start fuckin doing.

[Gail Simone]

I'm asking people to stay CIVIL, please.

Gail

[Cream Filled Taco]

but sometimes, people who talk the talk will try to get people who walk the walk to do the walking for them.


We call those managers, in my neck of the woods.

[MacQuarrie]

J, what you're proposing is not far removed from what Walt Disney did. Sure, he was the idea man, the vision, but he didn't do all the heavy lifting. If not for Ub Iwerks, and later, the famous "Nine Old Men," Disney would today be on the scrapheap of history next to the producers of Bosko and Herman & Catnip.

There are a few caveats, however.

First, as Stan Lee's example shows, this only works as long as you take care of the people working for you and treat them right. If they think they're being taken advantage of or they get a better offer somewhere else, they will bolt in a fat hurry.

Second, you have to be a staight-shooter with everybody outside the company as well. Your competitors will see that it's really your staff doing the work and they will try to steal them away.

Since the primary selling point for investors is your vision and leadership, those have to be above suspicion or reproach. That means every public statement has to stand up to the most brutal scrutiny, and every criticism has to be brushed off. Get caught up in flamewars or arguements and you're dead. If you have to explain or clarify anything, you're dead.

That means, if you announce that Crusty O'Geezer is cast in your film, and somebody walks up to him at a con and asks him about the project, he better not say "who? What film? Um... I'm not sure what I'm booked for right now, so it's possible I'm doing it, but I can't recall." If you announce that Busty McBlonde is starring, you need a verifiable public quote from her saying how excited she is to be doing it, and her reps have to know about it. If you say that they are under confidentiality agreement and can't discuss the project or confirm their participation, then you can't talk about their participation either.

If you want to be the visionary behind the project rather than the sole creator, you have to be seen as the guy that can make it happen. You're off to a good (re)start. Don't fall back into old patterns and you should do well.

I’ll follow whatever Mac suggests so that I can get the most out of the comics’ exposure as quickly as possible, as far as possible.
I'm not sure what this means. I'll help where I can, but I'm already over-extended. My day starts at 6:00 and ends at midnight. I steal time from my boss to post here, mostly at lunch. If I'm going to take on a new project, it has to replace an existing one, and the only existing one I want to replace is my day job. I'll need at least $50k a year, plus medical/dental/vision, plus 401(k) and three weeks paid vacation. Profit sharing and bonuses wouldn't hurt. Otherwise, I can't really work for you right now.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

We call those managers, in my neck of the woods.


I call them DA MAN. And I'm always lookin for a way to stick it to em. :p

[Red Jack]

Either do or do not.

"Ideas" aren't worth the time it takes to tell them. Execution is all that matters. Something with form and substance that people can see and feel.

Everything else is gas.

[Gail Simone]

What happened to the idea of a story in the collective book posters were talking about doing here?

Just wondering.

Gail

[MacQuarrie]

What happened to the idea of a story in the collective book posters were talking about doing here?

Just wondering.

Gail

There's a forum for the collaborators over at Monkey Spit, but we're not doing a lot of talking right now. Talking burns up energy that should be used for creating.

[TomStillwell]

Yep, I finished my first draft script today and Mac sent me some great scans of concept art this morning. I'm pretty pleased with how it's turning out.

If anyone is really serious about being involved now is the time to jump aboard. By serious I mean you're coming to work and produce.

[Typo Lad]

I can talk. My story is done, man. Written, penciled, inked and lettered.

[J-Bolt]

... it will take some down time, but I think this will benefit us all.
Gail, please e-mail me at gentlemanjimf@sbcglobal.net so that you can upload you the right picture to put on that listing because, for some reason, this thing's not letting me do so.
Please e-mail me right away!

What happened to me, last night, was that I felt like having a midnight cereal snack and it spilled all all over my comforter and likewise floor. As you all know, my back is very bad. Well, like a fool, I tired to clean the mess up and scoop it all up (Honeycombs and Grape Nuts) with towels before going to mop it up. Well,my right heal hit it, sending it (amd my other foot) up in the air, slamming the crown and finally flat-slammed by back's center, all onto the ground, in the span in about 2 seconds. My blood-curdling scream woke everyone up, as their worstnight mare as to what happened to me. Paramedics were called and taped me to a back-brace/neckbraces.
After about 4 hours, of absolutely under-dosed painful torture, taped to that backboard, they kept me dosed and trapped in the hospital, but they said all those steroids I was on, took out all the swelling, wiped away the breaks with my back... but it'll take weeks of recovering to finish.
Meanwhile, I need for you to e-mail me.
J-:cool:

Wow, J-Bolt, I'm really sorry to hear about this fall. It sounds AWFUL!

Thank goodness you're gonna be okay, though. YIKES!

Hope you feel better soon.

Gail

[J-Bolt]

Thanks, NT

Sorry to hear about your fall, J-Bolt. Hope you get back on your feet real soon.

[J-Bolt]

Thanks. That's whyat' I'm to do.
J-:cool:



zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-:cool:

Have you seen Hussle and Flow? There's a scene I really like, it takes place in the kitchen at Key's house. Key (Anthony Anderson) tells Djay (Terrence Howard) that in the world, there's 2 kind of people, People who talk the talk, and peole who walk the walk, but sometimes, people who talk the talk will try to get people who walk the walk to do the walking for them.


Stop having epiphanys, stop having "ideas", stop planning, stop talking and start fuckin doing.

[Red Jack]

What happened to the idea of a story in the collective book posters were talking about doing here?

Just wondering.

Gail


I'm three pages in to what will be an eight pager. I've got a full plate of pre-existing obligations so it's slightly slower than planned. Since i hadn't read anything new about it, I assumed everyone else was in a similar situation.

[J-Bolt]

I've been hearin' that you're offering' to help make sure my issues look good and such because "we want to make sure you succeed, J-Bolt," but this, that, and the other has changed. I don't know what those are, but I take them as that I do my own shit and you'll probably scoff at it later, anyway.

Don't worry about it, Gang. I'll do it with what I have available, which I feel is pretty, freakin' good... and you don't (but that's a moot point, since you've changed your thoughts about helping, anyway). Just, when it comes time to cut me down, if I didn't do something the way you think would've been best another way, keep it to yourself, because bitching rights are for those who partake in an offer that was very humbly offered, but turned down. That's what I was offerin': for you to lemme' know what YOU think should be changed, etc. as you KEPT telling me needed to be done. I must have mis-read the offers or something, or there was fine print I didn't get to, without my Captain Nowhere decoder glasses or something. I can't figure out why all of a sudden, everything has changed, but that offer's been taken back, so no worries, no bitching... from EITHER side.

J-

[J-Bolt]

I have no damned idea what I wrote here. The meds from the fall must've been goin' full steam.:confused:

Back to work for me.
J-

Thanks. That's whyat' I'm to do.
J-:cool:



zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-:cool:

[Lester C.]

Is there a progress update on your finished comic? Regarding your fall you have my best wishes on a speedy recovery.

I have no damned idea what I wrote here. The meds from the fall must've been goin' full steam.:confused:

Back to work for me.
J-

[OMAR]

Wow, J-Bolt, I'm very sorry to hear about your fall. I'm glad you weren't hurt too badly, and sorry that some are using this as an opportunity to heckle you. If it's not too personal a question - since the comprehensive interview so many of us are waiting to see is still in the future - who was it that came running when you fell that night? Just hoping for a peek behind the curtain.

With so many great LBC characters, have you entertained the thought of hiring on a writer or artist to do a miniseries based on, say, Draco or Wolff - I'm thinking that between the movie and the Bombshell comic it might be years before you personally have the time to give attention to some of these guys.

Glad to hear that Vampirella commission will be paying enough to finance the movie and the new comics - that sounds like a lot of money! Any chance of us seeing the image online some time?

[TomStillwell]

I've been hearin' that you're offering' to help make sure my issues look good and such because "we want to make sure you succeed, J-Bolt," but this, that, and the other has changed.

I'm not exactly sure what this is all about. To date you've had someone offer to letter a story for you and paint a cover, someone has offered to help edit your stuff, you have a new website, a writer is colaborating with you on a project, and many people like Mac have given you advice. All of this has been free help to support you so that all you need worry about is working. I wish I had such help.

The problem is that for all the support given we've haven't seen any progress on your part.

That's what I was offerin': for you to lemme' know what YOU think should be changed, etc. as you KEPT telling me needed to be done.

It's kind of hard to help you in this regard when we have no work from you. We can't do it all for you. We're all too busy with our own stuff. I don't see much appreciation on your part for the people who have given their time to help you out and yet you complain because they aren't doing more to help you.

I'm trying very hard to be positive here. Instead of looking at what people aren't doing, you need to look at what people have done for you and be thankful. Nobody is in the comic industry is going out of their way to help unknowns like you but the people here at YABS are doing a hell of a job to support you.

[Matt Algren]

That's what I was offerin': for you to lemme' know what YOU think should be changed, etc. as you KEPT telling me needed to be done. All right, here's one thing that I seriously think would help you. I think you should take down the ashcan and redo it. You've said that it is done in a style that isn't one you would use now. I think you should start from scratch (at least artwise) and polish it up so people have access to what you are doing now. Forget coloring for now if you need to, but get an awesome representation of your talent online.

[MacQuarrie]

I've been hearin' that you're offering' to help make sure my issues look good and such because "we want to make sure you succeed, J-Bolt," but this, that, and the other has changed. I don't know what those are, but I take them as that I do my own shit and you'll probably scoff at it later, anyway.

Don't worry about it, Gang. I'll do it with what I have available, which I feel is pretty, freakin' good... and you don't (but that's a moot point, since you've changed your thoughts about helping, anyway). Just, when it comes time to cut me down, if I didn't do something the way you think would've been best another way, keep it to yourself, because bitching rights are for those who partake in an offer that was very humbly offered, but turned down. That's what I was offerin': for you to lemme' know what YOU think should be changed, etc. as you KEPT telling me needed to be done. I must have mis-read the offers or something, or there was fine print I didn't get to, without my Captain Nowhere decoder glasses or something. I can't figure out why all of a sudden, everything has changed, but that offer's been taken back, so no worries, no bitching... from EITHER side.

J-
Remember when your kid was little? If you're at all like me, there must have been a point when he wanted you to do something for him, like tie his shoes or something, that he should have been able to do but was just being lazy about, and you probably told him something like this:

"I will help you do it, but I won't do it for you."

[SUPERECWFAN1]

All right, here's one thing that I seriously think would help you. I think you should take down the ashcan and redo it. You've said that it is done in a style that isn't one you would use now. I think you should start from scratch (at least artwise) and polish it up so people have access to what you are doing now. Forget coloring for now if you need to, but get an awesome representation of your talent online.


Yeah I'd revamp Draco and some of what he did there. The ashcan to me is something that needs to be changed asap. It really shouldn't be what your about now , J-Bolt.

Good luck and all.

[J-Bolt]

Omar...
Thanks for your condolences on the fall.

My son and a relative, who was visiting that night, came to my aid. It was scary as Hell, but I was glad when it was over, after getting home. Now, I have to deal with a couple weeks of major pain from the places I landed on, but at least I didn't come home in a wheelchair.

Other character comics are in the works. Most of them will be introduced as short stories in When Lightning Strikes and such, to see the audience reaction. I know Draco is one of them who WILL have his own series.

When I finish the Vampi painting, I'll be sure to get it up here.
J-:cool:

Wow, J-Bolt, I'm very sorry to hear about your fall. I'm glad you weren't hurt too badly, and sorry that some are using this as an opportunity to heckle you. If it's not too personal a question - since the comprehensive interview so many of us are waiting to see is still in the future - who was it that came running when you fell that night? Just hoping for a peek behind the curtain.

With so many great LBC characters, have you entertained the thought of hiring on a writer or artist to do a miniseries based on, say, Draco or Wolff - I'm thinking that between the movie and the Bombshell comic it might be years before you personally have the time to give attention to some of these guys.

Glad to hear that Vampirella commission will be paying enough to finance the movie and the new comics - that sounds like a lot of money! Any chance of us seeing the image online some time?

[J-Bolt]

You're right, Tom...
I haven't given enough thanks. I'm rectifying that now and will wait until I put out what I've got to see what you guys think.
My error.
J-

I'm not exactly sure what this is all about. To date you've had someone offer to letter a story for you and paint a cover, someone has offered to help edit your stuff, you have a new website, a writer is colaborating with you on a project, and many people like Mac have given you advice. All of this has been free help to support you so that all you need worry about is working. I wish I had such help.

The problem is that for all the support given we've haven't seen any progress on your part.



It's kind of hard to help you in this regard when we have no work from you. We can't do it all for you. We're all too busy with our own stuff. I don't see much appreciation on your part for the people who have given their time to help you out and yet you complain because they aren't doing more to help you.

I'm trying very hard to be positive here. Instead of looking at what people aren't doing, you need to look at what people have done for you and be thankful. Nobody is in the comic industry is going out of their way to help unknowns like you but the people here at YABS are doing a hell of a job to support you.

[J-Bolt]

I couldn't agree with you more, NT...
But many think that I should stay with what I've got. Why, I don't know. But, I think I have an idea for this: I'll do it based on WLS#1, so that it's a completely fresh Ashcan, without having to re-do all the artwork in #0. Maybe someone on here would like to do any interviews?
Thanks for the input. I like it.
J-:D

All right, here's one thing that I seriously think would help you. I think you should take down the ashcan and redo it. You've said that it is done in a style that isn't one you would use now. I think you should start from scratch (at least artwise) and polish it up so people have access to what you are doing now. Forget coloring for now if you need to, but get an awesome representation of your talent online.

[J-Bolt]

That's all I ask, Mac, My Friend...:p

Remember when your kid was little? If you're at all like me, there must have been a point when he wanted you to do something for him, like tie his shoes or something, that he should have been able to do but was just being lazy about, and you probably told him something like this:

"I will help you do it, but I won't do it for you."

[J-Bolt]

Suprecwfan1...
Since Draco and Wolff aren't in WLS1, I'll figure out another way to get them in the new AshCan, such as a "Characters To Come" section, with BombShell as "Another LBC Issue To Read With WLS."

Ya' see... Wolff is due to appear in WLS #3 or #4, BombShell, as we know it, will have her own title come out at the same time as WLS and I haven't decided how to have Draco appear... maybe as an ocassional appearance in WLS and BombShell (since Hades will be looking over the mortal world) and finally have Manes ban him to that realm, since he admires it so much, to teach him a lesson. That way, I can have him appear in that WLS issue as a 2nd story, launching it into its own series... mini-series at first and see what comes from that.

I think that would be the best way to go about it.
J-:cool:

Yeah I'd revamp Draco and some of what he did there. The ashcan to me is something that needs to be changed asap. It really shouldn't be what your about now , J-Bolt.

Good luck and all.

[J-Bolt]

Everybody...
You want/deserve an explanation as to why I'm having so many delays in doing LBE projects. So, this is what I'm doing, in this post.

Whenever I can, I'm working on LBE comics and projects. I do have a few employees and such, besides the fact that I need to earn my own living. I've preached about a way that struggling comic book artists can do this before, but I also do this... and that's how I know this works to bring in money.

It can also work for somebody who has a steady job who wants to earn extra money in order to put together publishing money while honing their craft. EBAY. On eBay, people pay through the nose to have their favorite character(s) drawn and, if they really like your style, you can work up quite a client base. If you're lucky, you can even get someone to commission you to do a large, expensive painting, which will accomplish what you need in one, clean swoop.

So, for the past couple years, I've been doing this for all the reasons I've stated, while working on my LBE projects every available moment I can find. I've been absolutely exhausted from it (since I'm basically doing it 24/7, taking cat-naps where I can), but it's worth it. On a slow month, I make about an extra $2,000 a month. Likewise, I eat whenever I can.

So, now you know why all this takes me so long to get done. I'm almost caught up on my work, so I'm anxious to just put 100% of my time into the LBE work. Anyway, I also suggest this to anyone and everybody knows how I help to supplement my income along with pay my salaries, besides the sales I bring in from the Store... and soon the LBE.com memberships, again.
J-:D

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Suprecwfan1...
Since Draco and Wolff aren't in WLS1, I'll figure out another way to get them in the new AshCan, such as a "Characters To Come" section, with BombShell as "Another LBC Issue To Read With WLS."

Ya' see... Wolff is due to appear in WLS #3 or #4, BombShell, as we know it, will have her own title come out at the same time as WLS and I haven't decided how to have Draco appear... maybe as an ocassional appearance in WLS and BombShell (since Hades will be looking over the mortal world) and finally have Manes ban him to that realm, since he admires it so much, to teach him a lesson. That way, I can have him appear in that WLS issue as a 2nd story, launching it into its own series... mini-series at first and see what comes from that.

I think that would be the best way to go about it.
J-:cool:


A good mini-series with the Draco is something I'd like. But as usual it still doesn't make much since to sentence a guy to Earth and all if he admires it so much. ;)

[TomStillwell]

It might be a little "be careful what you wish for" kind of punishment.

The grass is always greener on the side. It's also a whole lot harder to mow too.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

It might be a little "be careful what you wish for" kind of punishment.

The grass is always greener on the side. It's also a whole lot harder to mow too.


Yeah but he's a demon from hell sent to Earth and he seems to like humanity. I'd do more of the bonding situation with a human soul and all. Showcase that these 2 have to work togethor and all.

I'd also drop the fat Elvis look and all. Make the guy look like a real cross between a demon/human who morphs when needed. I'd more or less do it as a supernatural Incredible Hulk type. ;)

[J-Bolt]

You and Tom are both exactly right, except he's not a fat Elvis. Both those are precisely the story that originates Draco... but the story gets even deeper, incuding Hell being taken over and, to keep the balance of good and evil, Draco has to rescue his own father from the captor... being someone related to Eric Faux, himself, and making the plot thicken all that much more.

Sorry... >whew!<... that was long-winded! But you both have it right on the ball! BUT NO FAT ELVIS! lol:mad:

J-:cool:

Yeah but he's a demon from hell sent to Earth and he seems to like humanity. I'd do more of the bonding situation with a human soul and all. Showcase that these 2 have to work togethor and all.

I'd also drop the fat Elvis look and all. Make the guy look like a real cross between a demon/human who morphs when needed. I'd more or less do it as a supernatural Incredible Hulk type. ;)

[TomStillwell]

He does look like he's had a fried peanut butter and banana sammich or two...

[howyadoin]

It can also work for somebody who has a steady job who wants to earn extra money in order to put together publishing money while honing their craft. EBAY. On eBay, people pay through the nose to have their favorite character(s) drawn and, if they really like your style, you can work up quite a client base. If you're lucky, you can even get someone to commission you to do a large, expensive painting, which will accomplish what you need in one, clean swoop.

So, for the past couple years, I've been doing this for all the reasons I've stated, while working on my LBE projects every available moment I can find. I've been absolutely exhausted from it (since I'm basically doing it 24/7, taking cat-naps where I can), but it's worth it. On a slow month, I make about an extra $2,000 a month.Wouldn't mind seeing some of that commissioned stuff, if you've got pictures.

[Crowley]

Everybody...
You want/deserve an explanation as to why I'm having so many delays in doing LBE projects. So, this is what I'm doing, in this post.

Whenever I can, I'm working on LBE comics and projects. I do have a few employees and such, besides the fact that I need to earn my own living. I've preached about a way that struggling comic book artists can do this before, but I also do this... and that's how I know this works to bring in money.

It can also work for somebody who has a steady job who wants to earn extra money in order to put together publishing money while honing their craft. EBAY. On eBay, people pay through the nose to have their favorite character(s) drawn and, if they really like your style, you can work up quite a client base. If you're lucky, you can even get someone to commission you to do a large, expensive painting, which will accomplish what you need in one, clean swoop.

So, for the past couple years, I've been doing this for all the reasons I've stated, while working on my LBE projects every available moment I can find. I've been absolutely exhausted from it (since I'm basically doing it 24/7, taking cat-naps where I can), but it's worth it. On a slow month, I make about an extra $2,000 a month. Likewise, I eat whenever I can.

So, now you know why all this takes me so long to get done. I'm almost caught up on my work, so I'm anxious to just put 100% of my time into the LBE work. Anyway, I also suggest this to anyone and everybody knows how I help to supplement my income along with pay my salaries, besides the sales I bring in from the Store... and soon the LBE.com memberships, again.
J-:D

you do realize that (if in fact you are making on average an extra two grand per month) you can EASILY pay an amature penciller, a colorist, an inker to do your book. Then next month you can pay two grand and get a fairly big name for cover. the month after that you could probably set up an account with Brenner or Quebecor and have X number of books come out.

that's six grand total as a very conservative estimate. but the timetable is about 3 months production... which is pretty average for a comic.

[MacQuarrie]

you do realize that (if in fact you are making on average an extra two grand per month) you can EASILY pay an amature penciller, a colorist, an inker to do your book. Then next month you can pay two grand and get a fairly big name for cover. the month after that you could probably set up an account with Brenner or Quebecor and have X number of books come out.

that's six grand total as a very conservative estimate. but the timetable is about 3 months production... which is pretty average for a comic.
My impression is that the two grand is part of what pays his living expenses, it's not "extra" money.

I could be wrong.

But since you brought it up, and since you're in more of a position to know, what are the going page rates for penciller, inker, colorist, letterer, and cover artist?

Any idea what the current ad rates are for comics? How does that compare to magazines?

[Crowley]

Well I'm not at liberty to divulge the amounts paid to our freelancers.

I will say that what I laid out is pretty close to what other companies pay, we're in the mid range.

A buddy of mine who interned for us put together a magazine anthology and got writers and artists to pitch in and paid for it SOLELY through advertising.

[Red Jack]

Well I'm not at liberty to divulge the amounts paid to our freelancers.

I will say that what I laid out is pretty close to what other companies pay, we're in the mid range.

A buddy of mine who interned for us put together a magazine anthology and got writers and artists to pitch in and paid for it SOLELY through advertising.


Really? I'm interested in that. Would you mind PMing me details so i can talk to my publisher about them?

[J-Bolt]

You've already seen some of my commissioned work. There were some mixed in with those earlier pictures I posted a few pages back.
J-

Wouldn't mind seeing some of that commissioned stuff, if you've got pictures.

[J-Bolt]

That's an interesting theory, but why pay anybody, when I can do the work myself until I get the capital to have a full staff on it. That's what I need the $100k for: for the film and to go into full professional production.

What is Brenner and Quebecor? Please e-mail me the details about them at J-Bolt@lightningboltentertainment.com. It might be something to further look into.

By the way, that 2 grand a month is already spent in all the debts I already have. The Vampirella piece is my pot o' gold that will get my end result, if my interviews don't do it for me beforehand.
J-:cool:

you do realize that (if in fact you are making on average an extra two grand per month) you can EASILY pay an amature penciller, a colorist, an inker to do your book. Then next month you can pay two grand and get a fairly big name for cover. the month after that you could probably set up an account with Brenner or Quebecor and have X number of books come out.

that's six grand total as a very conservative estimate. but the timetable is about 3 months production... which is pretty average for a comic.

[J-Bolt]

I figured you guys would want to see some of the stuff I've done just in the past 36 hours alone, on BombShell and WLS, big and small.

Well, since issue #1 is coming out at the same time for both of them, I've decided to do a JOINT Ashcan for both of them to get a little promotion for both books. I'm working on the computer-painted cover now and contents (other than the pages that's be used for it) and fitting in the other items such as Draco and Wolff. I'll probably fit them in the same way as I did for the original Ashcan, but with the explanation of where they'll come into, story-wise.

But, the whole focus will be on the #1 issues of both When Lightning Strikes and BombShell coming out, with VERY little information talking about the movie.

I'm going to need to have a new interview for this Ashcan. Any of you writers (Gail, perhaps) want to do that interview online to appear in this combined Ashcan? If so, lemme' know here and in e-mail please. I'd appreciate it and at least you'd be assured of who is doing the interview without that question existing forever. Lemme' know.

I've been busy working on both issues, going back and forth between them and the smallest thing I came up with is a design for page numbers for them. That's laughable, I know, but I'm giving you everything here on one graphic, including a BombShell page I finished last night, with BombShell's grand entrance splash page:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/ForYABS2.jpg

So, lemme' know what you guys think.
J-:cool:

[J-Bolt]

I had no problem doing this before. Now, I can't figure out what I did wrong. The other pics were bigger than these... I KNOW! And yet, these blasted things won't upload unless I do stuff like this.

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/ForYABS1.jpg

Here's the upper half of that thing. I hope everybody can see it.
J-:mad:

I figured you guys would want to see some of the stuff I've done just in the past 36 hours alone, on BombShell and WLS, big and small.

Well, since issue #1 is coming out at the same time for both of them, I've decided to do a JOINT Ashcan for both of them to get a little promotion for both books. I'm working on the computer-painted cover now and contents (other than the pages that's be used for it) and fitting in the other items such as Draco and Wolff. I'll probably fit them in the same way as I did for the original Ashcan, but with the explanation of where they'll come into, story-wise.

But, the whole focus will be on the #1 issues of both When Lightning Strikes and BombShell coming out, with VERY little information talking about the movie.

I'm going to need to have a new interview for this Ashcan. Any of you writers (Gail, perhaps) want to do that interview online to appear in this combined Ashcan? If so, lemme' know here and in e-mail please. I'd appreciate it and at least you'd be assured of who is doing the interview without that question existing forever. Lemme' know.

I've been busy working on both issues, going back and forth between them and the smallest thing I came up with is a design for page numbers for them. That's laughable, I know, but I'm giving you everything here on one graphic, including a BombShell page I finished last night, with BombShell's grand entrance splash page:

http://www.lightningboltentertainment.com/ForYABS2.jpg

So, lemme' know what you guys think.
J-:cool:

[Crowley]

just curious... why are you numbering comic pages?
when they get sent out the printer assign the number pages... usually it's a two tiered system based on art and book pages... there's really no reason to number them.

Quebecor:
http://www.quebecor.com/Home.aspx?Culture=en

Brenner:
http://www.brennerprinting.com/

if you are serious about printing books you need to call them and setup an account.

[howyadoin]

What is Brenner and Quebecor?Quebecor's one of the biggest printers in North America. They do most - if not all - of Marvel's and DC's stuff, among others.

[J-Bolt]

I see. I thought they were both some kind of other direct distributors, like Mac was talking about, or something. If they give a better price than what I've already been given (about 27 cents per complete full color copy), then I'll see about doing business with them. Otherwise, I already have printers ready.
J-:cool:

Quebecor's one of the biggest printers in North America. They do most - if not all - of Marvel's and DC's stuff, among others.

[J-Bolt]

That's not what I've ever worked with, concerning page numbers in comic books. Maybe what you're talking about has to do with magazines and other media which ALL pages are numbered, but I don't know why any printer would expend the time/energy to sift through the advertising pages just to number the story pages. That's why I like to do it myself. Besides that, it also adds to the effective appearance of the book by having the personalized page number look.

Even though you gave comment and no compliment whatsoever (including on the BombShell comic page itself, that was attached in the post next to the page number post... I think Mac called it the Oreo cookie thing), I'm hoping you like how it looks and agree that it'll add to the look of the book. I'll be doing similar for WLS.

I already responded to the printer info, in my previous post. I already have a printer ready, with others in the mix, just in case.
Thanks,
J-:cool:

just curious... why are you numbering comic pages?
when they get sent out the printer assign the number pages... usually it's a two tiered system based on art and book pages... there's really no reason to number them.

Quebecor:
http://www.quebecor.com/Home.aspx?Culture=en

Brenner:
http://www.brennerprinting.com/

if you are serious about printing books you need to call them and setup an account.

[J-Bolt]

Guys...
I don't remember if I've posted about this before, but I was wondering if you guys plan on taking part in the new LBE site. Post in the new forums. Vote in the polls. Something.

Anyway, I hope you guys will start taking part in the new site that Shelly did such a great job with.

Thanks,
J-:cool:

[TomStillwell]

about 27 cents per complete full color copy

J-Bolt, could you clarify this for me please? Are you saying they'll only charge you 27 cents for each copy they make for you?

[Crowley]

That's not what I've ever worked with, concerning page numbers in comic books. Maybe what you're talking about has to do with magazines and other media which ALL pages are numbered, but I don't know why any printer would expend the time/energy to sift through the advertising pages just to number the story pages. That's why I like to do it myself. Besides that, it also adds to the effective appearance of the book by having the personalized page number look.
What printing company DOESN'T include cover, back IBC and IFC as pages?
they also count ads... unless you're planning on not running ANY ads... which would be foolish.

Even though you gave comment and no compliment whatsoever (including on the BombShell comic page itself, that was attached in the post next to the page number post... I think Mac called it the Oreo cookie thing), I'm hoping you like how it looks and agree that it'll add to the look of the book. I'll be doing similar for WLS.
I think I've seen that full comic before... it looks like old work and as I commented before... anatomy is off. That said... it's a fun image.

I already responded to the printer info, in my previous post. I already have a printer ready, with others in the mix, just in case.
Thanks,
J-:cool:cool, so will you be constructing the comic in InDesign? or just Illustrator files and then combining them as a PDF?
Who's your printer?
1,000 copies for $270 bucks is a pretty good deal, they're going B&W I would assume...

[TomStillwell]

1,000 copies for $270 bucks is a pretty good deal, they're going B&W I would assume...

Yes, that would be an insanely good deal. I can't see how any printer would make money off of charging 27 cents an issue for a color comic.

I'd really like the number to that printer so I can work with them concerning distribution through Diamond soon.

[J-Bolt]

Yes. 40 pages, cover-to-cover, 100lb semi-gloss pages with 100 lb. card stock gloss cover. With 25 - 50,000 copies printed, they run about 27 cents each.
J-:cool:

J-Bolt, could you clarify this for me please? Are you saying they'll only charge you 27 cents for each copy they make for you?