Just a few pages shy of THE 100 PAGE MARK!!!

Yeah, I was pretty excited when I finished my latest Dead Duck story, convinced I'd surpassed the 100 page mark. With 44 to go, I felt like I'd made a real achievement. That is, until a sobering moment brought forth by my trust college calculator gave correction to my assumption, and proved I was only at around 97. Still, I'm closer than I was when I drew that first three-page Dead Duck story back in the fall of '06 (Heck, I didn't even have a publisher back then)!

And speaking of my latest story....

I'd teased this tale in my last couple blogs, but here it is, a sneak peek at the first page (click on it for greater detail). When completed, it was about six pages, which was pretty good for working from a two-page double spaced script. It could have been much shorter, but once you read this story, you'll see how I really worked on the pacing. There's no shortage of my standard truck load of dialog, but there's also plenty of wordless panels, where hopefully body language, expressions and subtle changes from scene to scene carry the story along as effectively as I hoped when drawing it.

The story is about Dead Duck and Zombie Chick having to make a pick-up in circa 1914 Bosnia. Dead Duck is forlorn about his job, believing it to be of no positive service to society. However, upon discovering that his pick-up is none other than Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand (whose assassination is the primary impetus for World War I), Dead Duck decides to go against his professional ethics and change history by saving the Duke and erasing the history of war in the 20th century. For her part, Zombie Chick is left alone in a cafe to make friends with the Bosnian locals, specifically a morose young man who is lamenting his own failed mission in life....

The first thing I hope you'll notice is the title. "All Along The Lunch Counter" parodies the song "All Along The Watch Tower" by Bob Dylan
(Yes, I know Hendrix most famously sung it, but Dylan wrote it). And my subtitle "All Quiet On The Western Omlette" parodies the book "All Quiet On The Western Front"
which is my wife's favorite book and is set in WWI.

Using parody titles is a device I've employed in several of my Dead Duck stories, if not all of them. And where did I get inspired to use such a device...?

By the most irreverent, satirical and brilliant cartoon of the 1960's, ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE
(originally known as Rocky and Friends until Rocky's rock-headed sidekick took center stage). After each Rocky and Bullwinkle serial, the announcer would always end with "Be here next time for..." and give a parody title followed by a parody subtitle. It was genius stuff, and stuck with me since I was a four-year-old kid watching Bullwinkle reruns (having to suffer through the pre-dawn farm report to watch the show on WNEM TV 5. Saginaw, represent).

Part of what inspired me to do this story was my growing fascination with history. During my college years I was given a far better historical tutorial than high school provided, and became fascinated by the quirky facts behind the Duke's assassination. The young assassin to-be, Gavrilo Princip, had failed in his initial attempt to off the Duke, and wandered into a local cafe for some lunch. Just then, the Duke's car, lost in the unfamiliar Sarajevo neighborhood, fatefully drives past the same eatery. The rest is history. I don't know which professor to credit with teaching me this fact, but whoever it is, many, many thanks. It's a wonderful basis for one of my best Dead Duck stories to date.

The other part of inspiration came from one of my favorite books, "Ragtime" by E.L. Doctorow. It's a fictional story of the dawn of the 20th century as told through the eyes of some fictional and some historical characters. Upon my fifth or sixth reading of the book, I decided it was past due for me to drop Dead Duck into the biggest event of the early 20th century and see what transpires. I'd love to show this story to Doctorow one day and see what he thinks (hopefully he isn't one of those high-browed authors who equates comic books with outhouse toilet paper).

Lastly, I'd like to discuss the backgrounds and architecture I've drawn for this story. Now, I pride myself on my research. I was careful to study each historical figure before drawing them, researched the gun Princip used, the name of restaurant he was eating at, even the car the Duke and his wife were shot in. But people visiting modern day Sarajevo will be hard pressed to find architecture as I've drawn it here. My knowledge of turn of the century buildings is limited to countless excursions around Bay City and Saginaw. So, drawing from my memories of those places while letting my imagination run wild, this is what I came up with. I tried to create an old world sensibility with the industrial monster of the 20th century encroaching just beyond the horizon, but still, I hope I didn't offend anyone's sense of historical accuracy.

So there you have it. I'm currently in the midst of choosing which story to do next. I'm caught between a vigilante story, a story about J.P. Yorick's history, another story about Dead Duck's secret background, and a story about a circus strong woman who incites Zombie Chick's wrath. Yes, I know. When in doubt, go for wrath. We'll see.

In the meantime, Ape Entertainment is telling me we're in the process of developing an online Dead Duck comic, so more news to follow. Thanks for sticking with me, kids. There's more news on the horizon, and I'm anxious to tell you about it as it unfolds!


--Jay

Nothing special....

...just an update because it's been awhile since the last one.

Just to get you all up to speed on Dead Duck, I've completed the last story I mentioned, which involved Dead Duck's youth at Camp Scholomance, a retreat for the potentially evil run by the devil. It turned out to be my second longest story, coming in at nineteen pages. What made this story so long was the timing in the story. I've been trying to stretch my storytelling with more visuals than text when possible, and in this story it really paid off. A single sequence, perhaps showing Dracula shaking down Dead Duck for his lunch, which could easily be done in half a page, instead lasts two pages so I can show the evolving action panel by panel, minute action by minute action. Believe me, it's cooler and less boring than it sounds. Anyway, the story turned out very cool, and even managed to surprise me in the end, which is a real trick since I created it. I am, however, hoping to fill the rest of the book with shorter stories, just so I can have a wide variety of adventures in the book rather than just two or three big ones.

I have a backlog of story ideas to pick from for future Dead Duck episodes, but as is sometimes the case, a fresh idea comes to mind and takes precedent over an older idea that's been fermenting for a year. Such was the case with my current Dead Duck endeavor. I've been re-reading E.L. Doctorow's novel Ragtime (one of my favorite books), and was inspired to give Dead Duck and Zombie Chick their own turn of the century adventure. Without giving too much away, I'll divulge that this story concerns Dead Duck's internal conflict with his job, as well as Zombie Chick's unintentional involvement in the origins of World War I.

The script came to me very quickly, which usually means it's going to be good and a hell of a lot of fun to create. I find in my older age that I'm becoming more interested in history, and though it was never intended as a tent pole for Dead Duck's adventures, I'm finding historical events and characters fit into Dead Duck's formula quite nicely and are a ton of fun to work with. I'm toying with the possibility of Dead Duck meeting Ben Franklin at some juncture, since he's one of my favorite historical figures (and potentially the first American editorial cartoonist!). Time will tell....

I've been in touch with Chris Sanders, and he's still dedicated to creating a Dead Duck pin-up for the book, much to my delight. I have no doubt that Zombie Chick will take center stage in his piece, since he seems to favor her (and who can blame him? Hell, I favor her!). I tell you though, he's really going to set the bar high for me to up the level of quality in my work for this book. I'd hate for people to read the book, see my art and say "Huh. Not bad..." then see Chris' pin-up and then say "Jesus Christ! When didn't HE just draw this book instead? That other guy ain't nearly as good!" Actually, I have no doubt that I'll be the one saying that, since Chris' work is just untouchable. All I know is, when I grow up I want to be Chris Sanders.

On the home front, I'm gradually packing up my life, storing some of it in my grandma's attic, pitching a lot of it in the dumpster, and trying like hell to hold on to as much of it as I can (which AIN'T much) for our big move to Ann Arbor in late July. I'm trying to get as much done on Dead Duck before the move, and as of now I'm almost at 100 pages, with just 44 left to go. I feel pretty good about that. But still, trying to give birth to a comic amidst a life altering move is no walk in the park. I'm doing my best, and with Laura close at hand, I know it'll all come together just fine.

And on a parting note, I just received the news today that one of my heroes, make-up special effects genius Stan Winston has passed away from a long fight with cancer. I've admired Stan's work since I was twelve and saw his work in the Wiz. But it was his sci fi creations, particularly the Predator, that always blew my mind. I'm just at such a loss over Stan's death. I've been coming to grips lately that almost all of my heroes are dead, and that's a tough pill to swallow. Thank god for guys like Chris Sanders, who still give me idols to worship and aspire to emulate. But Stan, I wish you were still here, man. I wish. I wish.

So as updates go, it ain't much, but it's something. Sorry for the lack of "pictures" this time around. Man, haven't called my drawing pictures since I was five, and even then I thought the title was a bit degrading. Still, you'd be surprised how many older folks still use that vernacular. Anyway, I hope to have more stuff to share soon, with actual samples for you to see rather than just a load of blabbering text to slog through. Thanks for sticking with me, kids. Talk to you more later.

--Jay

GUESS WHO'S CONTRIBUTING TO DEAD DUCK???

If you check me out at Myspace.com, then you probably know where this is going. If not, then you're in for a pretty juicy bit of Dead Duck news....!

Over the course of the past couple to a few weeks, I've sent out e-mails to a handful of cartoonists whom I absolutely worship, asking them if they'd be interested in drawing a pin-up for my upcoming Dead Duck graphic novel. The list was short but specific, and each artist was chosen for the inspiration they unknowingly contributed to the development of my creation.

Out of that exclusive selection, one cartoonist, the guy, in fact, who I thought the least likely to respond, the guy who was by far the biggest name and biggest long-shot in my cartoonist wish list, actually wrote me back. He was extremely nice, and shockingly said he knew of my work (likely through Myspace), really enjoyed it and LOVED Zombie Chick! He suggested he'd be interested, but wasn't sure if it was something he could have ready immediately because of his busy schedule (and man, does he EVER have a busy schedule!). So I shot him another e-mail, telling him my deadline wasn't even until March of 2009, so there was plenty of time. After that, I left town to see The Kids In The Hall with Laura in Royal Oak. By the time I got back home today, there was yet another e-mail from the man, saying that YES, he would be able to draw the pin-up!

And who is this awesome cartoonist that I'm so completely head-over-heels for who's agreed to draw a pin-up of my characters? Well, let me put it this way...













You ever see the Disney cartoon Lilo and Stitch?

Chris Sanders, the film's creator, writer, designer, co-director and voice of Stitch himself (and now, the hilarious and gorgeous online comic Kiskaloo) has agreed to take on Dead Duck through his own gorgeous artistic vision. It will be featured prominently in the Dead Duck graphic novel which again, will be released in November of 2009. I am so gloriously excited about this, folks. To me, this is huge. And it's the biggest compliment someone's paid my work in a long time. Chris is now in an exclusive club of established cartoonists who dig Zombie Chick (Groo the Wanderer-creator Sergio Aragones conveyed his own love of my undead chicken when I met him last summer at the Motor City Comic Con).

So that's the news, folks! If any of the other's I'd written happen to get back with me, I'll let you know. But seriously, I'm on such a cloud right now that I don't feel I need anyone else. Chris is the ultimate!

More news later, kids!

THE BIG MOVE

I've been meaning to mention this for awhile, and I'm sure I've hinted at it here or there in various posts over the past two months or so. But now, I feel the time is right to lay the cards down and show you people the hand I'm playing.

Laura and I are moving. Not immediately, mind you, but in the next two months. She got accepted into the masters program at Eastern Michigan to study theater, so we're pulling up stakes and moving down there. We've signed onto an apartment in Ann Arbor and we're officially moving in on July 25th.

Now before any MORE of you can utter the now much-repeated phrase: "But what will YOU do down there, Jay?", I pose you with THIS question:

Do you even read this blog?

I've got a graphic novel coming out in November of 2009, with a March 2009 deadline, so that's what I'm doing. Plus, I'm a freelance cartoonist. I've already got work lined up into September with more on the way. If I decide I want to get a job around town, or if I even have the time to, I will. But I'm a cartoonist with a book pending, folks. Asking me what I'm going to do when we move is like asking Jim Henson "What'll you do if this whole puppeteering thing doesn't pan out?"

So anyway, now you guys know. I'll make sure to give out our contact info to any interested parties when the info becomes mine to give. In the meantime, to any of my friends reading this who happen to live or have family in southern Michigan, just know that I'll soon be in a bit closer proximity to hang, meet for lunch or engage in a drive-by should you insult my possee or dis my baby's mama (No mom, Laura's not pregant. It's an urban colloquialism, i.e. a joke). Hit me back with a response, either here, Myspace or my e-mail at fourpanelhero@hotmail.com so I know you got this and are aware that I'll be storming the lower mitten soon. Phone numbers will be appreciated.

More posts are coming, folks. But bookmark this one in particular. I hope to see you all in due time.

--Jay

A COUPLE WEEKS MIA BUT WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!!

Sorry for the two week hiatus from blogging. As much as I love to reach out to the fans through my blog (all three of you, including my mom), it takes a good chunk of time to create one of these updates, time that could otherwise be spent working on my latest Dead Duck pages. However, I'm an attention hog, so getting these blogs to you, the people (again, two of you and hi to my mom) is still a priority. So with that, I've got a mess of junk to show you, so cancel your two o'clock appointment and tell the wife you'll be late for dinner. This one's a read.

I'm combining production news from two different stories here: the first is just a taste from my last story, DAY'S END.

As you may recall, DAY'S END is a dialogue-free story that explores life outside of work at RIP Inc., as well as the complex relationship between Dead Duck and Zombie Chick, and the class division between minions and zombies. Sounds like a hoot, I know. But trust me, it's good. Anyway, I tend to put a lot of references to stuff that means a lot to me into these stories, and this one's no different. I make reference to one of my favorite John Hughes films, Pretty in Pink:



Though I'm a child of the 80's, Pretty in Pink always seemed like a girl movie, so I avoided it until this past year when I decided to give it a shot. Not surprisingly, I totally loved it, except, of course, for the end, where Molly Ringwald's character chooses the hunky preppie guy over the dorky outcast (played by Jon Cryer) who truly loves her. That was a real burn. At any rate, the dork gets one of the greatest moments in any comedy EVER where he lip syncs to Otis Redding's Try A Little Tenderness, a skill I myself mastered at age sixteen. And the dork's name? DUCKY. I shit you not. Now this is a discovery I made a good four years after I created Zombie Chick and had her call Dead Duck Ducky. If this ain't fate, then fate can go get bent, 'cause it sure feels like fate to me!

Onto my latest story. This one is another slice of Dead Duck's childhood, which sequentially speaking will come after his origin opus tale, DEAD DUCK RISING (Yes, they'll both be featured in the graphic novel). In this one, we see J.P. Yorick dropping Dead Duck off for summer camp. Contrived, you say? Too derivative, you think? Been there, done that, you rehash? Perhaps, I retort, were it not for the fact that this is CAMP SCHOLOMANCE, a Transylvanian summer retreat run by none other than the devil himself in the hopes of finding an evil apprentice! Why would J.P. send Dead Duck there? Who will Dead Duck encounter? Why are all these sentences in the form of a question like we were playing Jeopardy or something? Follow me, kids, for a few answers, at least…



These are the model sheets I've sketched for some of the characters Dead Duck will encounter. We have the devil himself (inspired to a degree from the awesome design of the devil in Nelvana's animated special, THE DEVIL AND DANIEL MOUSE and to another degree, the goblins from the Rankin Bass cartoon of THE HOBBIT).

We also have a young Dracula (come on, it takes place in Transylvania. Like you didn't see this coming). I decided to forgo the clichéd interpretations of the character, drop the bat motif and give Drac a reptilian quality with a great thick dragon tail, which has been so much fun to draw! It practically takes on a life of it's own. Yes, I kept the pointed ears, but gone are the two pointed teeth in favor of a mouth full of 'em.

I've also sketched up loose caricatures of Richard Nixon and Adolf Hitler who will also appear in the story as I imagine they looked as kids. Hey, it's a camp for the potentially evil. Now there may be those out there of a more liberal slant (I'm with ya, brother) who wonder why I didn't put in a youthful version of a more recent political figure, an "oily" character on his way out the door. My answer: too easy. Plus, despite his apish face, he's not that much fun to draw.

Lastly, we see a gypsy whom I've named Tibor. He's modeled loosely off Bill Murray, and based a bit on Murray's role as head counselor at Camp North Star in the classic comedy MEATBALLS. Like I said, I pay mad props to stuff I love.



This here is view of the script I'm working from. I type it up on my computer, print it off, then go through it carefully and decide how I'll divide up the panels.



Simultaneously, I sketch out a fist (my bigger interpretation of a thumbnail, which is a small sketch that defines what I'll draw on the finished page). Using the script, I number sections of dialogue and put the corresponding numbers in the fist's panels where they'll appear in the finished work. This is actually the first time I've tried this method, and thus far it's working very well for me.

While I'm not prepared to show you any of this tale's finished pages yet, as a consulation prize, I'm going to give you a sneak preview of what will be the very first story in the Dead Duck graphic novel. It's titled THE SOUL-TAKER'S APPRENTICE or WHEN YOU WISH UPON A SCYTHE. The title is an obvious parody of a famous animation studio's product, but the story itself is of a far darker bent. So if you're ready, here's the first four pages in what became a fourteen page tale concerning Dead Duck's first foray into Minioning….



And as if all that wasn't enough, I'm going to share with you how I support myself in between working on Dead Duck. I've been caricaturing at parties, schools and corporate events for about sixteen years now, and only in the last three have I really felt like I was getting the hang of it. Now I'm very proud of my ability to caricature, and with my latest gig at Northwood University I had the foresight to document my subjects with my camera. So for your enjoyment, here's the best of the batch that I drew a couple night's back. It's a lot of fun for the most part, and there are far worse ways to make a living.

Now aren't you glad you stuck around to the very end? And hopefully I've made the two weeks it took me to post a new blog well worth the wait. I can't swear when my next posting will be, but rest assured, I'll have just as much cool stuff to share with you guys when that time comes. In the meantime, take care, much love, and keep checking out my blog for all the latest happenings!

--Jay