Reminder: I can now self publish paperbooks on Amazon. Even do comics.

I got this in an email because I've already self published a few things. This is a reminder. I plan to use these tools very very soon.

Formatting feature updates with Kindle Create   Kindle Create helps you transform your manuscript into a professional book through features like book themes (templates), image placement, instant previews, automatic chapter title detection and more. The launch of the following new formatting features will help you to more easily format and publish your eBook and paperback books. What's New: Paperback (Early Access): You can now create a Kindle eBook and paperback with the same Kindle Create manuscript. Kindle Create lets you create a paperback of any trim size without any additional effort, and also takes care of complicated paperback formatting tasks like margins and page numbering. Table of Contents (TOC) creation: Add a TOC page in addition to a Kindle Table of Contents (sometimes also called NCX) to your book in just a few clicks. The TOC page automatically adapts to digital or print – your eBook contains a TOC page with hyperlinks and a TOC in a paperback contains page numbers. Image features: Kindle Create makes it easy to insert images and specify their placement on a page by controlling the size and position on a page. You can also set your image to extend to the edge of the screen as a Kindle Create Early Access feature.    Comics with Guided View (Early Access): You can create a comic eBook using a PDF and add Comixology Guided View panels. Comixology Guided View allows readers to view a comic on a panel-by-panel basis in a way that mimics the natural motion of the user's eye through the comic. Individual pages can be added or deleted from your Kindle Create book, making it easy to make changes.

Get Started with Kindle Create

Some More Art Pics..

Possibly better photoshopped versions.

Will be doing more photoshop art in the future...but this was my first stab.

I did this as part of a review where I guessed all the art was done with photos and photoshop.  So this was my first experiment. That guy was my boss. Nice guy.

Pics from Steel City Con (August 8 thru 10) and where I hit up LeVar Burton for a grant...

I actually took a picture of LeVar Burton at the Steel City con held last week from August 8th thru August 10th over in Monroeville but it was a terrible picture so I'm going with this. You might also know Mr. Burton from this:

But as I read the depressing news coming out of Ferguson, Missouri I have to admit I'm reminded of his iconic role in Roots. Wondering if times have changed all that much...

Since his fantastic success with his Reading Rainbow Kickstarter I hit em up for my modest Kickstarter like campaign to create a dedicated review of African American fiction, kinda like Shadow and Act but dedicated to Walter Mosley and Steven Barnes and other writers of color. I don't think I'll get that grant but I'll keep trying. That campaign is here.

Here are some other pics from the show. Here's a pretty plus size black girl I worked with. I took one picture and altered it in two different ways

And I tried another version that made it look more like comics. Her shirt says, from memory I think: "Wish I was Batman but I can't fight and I'm broke."

Here's a picture of the crowd:

And here's a picture of the Batmobile because I Am Fanboy.

And more from the crowd: 

A very impressive Predator. I just thought he looked better in blue.

More crowd. Probably the best pic I took. I blame the camera.

I just couldn't get this shot right. So I tried two versions.

And there's this version. 

My Review of Noche Roja over at Comics Forge

ITEM: My review of "Noche Roja" is up at Comics Forge. I think it means "Red Night" or bloody night considering all the murders that are involved.

An excerpt:

 What’s remarkable is that Noche Roja is one of the few comics I’ve read that talks about the Mexican present and Third World misery...Yes there’s WW3 but its not published by a major label indy imprint like Vertigo. This is a present that could easily turn into the American future. You can definitely tell that the writer has spent time living in the Third World. Without giving too much away, the story involves a number of issues that pervade the daily routines of the Mexican poor. 1.) You can be murdered very easily if you’re a journalist in Mexico. 2.) The treatment of Mexican workers, mostly women, is pretty horrible. Those workers are mistreated and abused for the most part. They don’t make a living wage and those factories have successfully lowered the standard of living for every U.S. Citizen. 3.) There are a number of unsolved murders (100s I think…) of mostly women within the Maquiladoras. It’s a serial killer’s dream.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, this all makes for a great and truly entertaining and suspenseful graphic novel.

Read the rest here.

Review of Spaceman 3 over at Comics Forge

ITEM: I review Spaceman 3 here. Here's a snippet:

"Scenes of third world poverty strewn amidst almost unlimited tech advances. It’s what makes the world of Spaceman 3 so compelling. And so depressingly realistic."

Review of Aldebaran over at Comics Forge

ITEM: I gave this a big two thumbs up over at Comics Forge.

My entry for cover blurb is: "Stunning, really.

Not unlike falling into a colorful sensuous surreal dream.

You don't want to leave. Or wake up."

Review of Robert Kirkman's new science fiction time travel comic "The Infinite"

ITEM: I reviewed this for Comics Forge. They're letting me review comics again.

Fantastic World War Three Cartoon About Home Foreclosure

Just a fantastic comic strip about the foreclosure crisis at WWIII, most radical political comic ever. You can check these out here.

New vintage sci fi paperback website and my new Facebook icon is Sabre.

ITEM: This is my new and slightly more intimidating Facebook icon. More intimidating than "Franklin" from Peanuts anywayz. "Count on it Overseer...!" Related: New site, for me anyway, from a guy who also used to shop at Copacetic and Eide's comics in the 70s and 80s apparently. More Related: With "Sabre" the writer wanted to create a superhero who looked like Jimi Hendrix. You be the judge.

Comic drawn by Alan Moore (world's greatest writer) and written by Harvey Pekar.

Harvey Pekar comics that was illustrated by Alan Moore. I think this is the full thing. Yep. Alan definitely sucks as an artist.

Rave reviews for new graphic works by Darwyn Cooke, Scott Morse and James Stokoe

ITEM: I highly recommend this special format edition comic, which features 60s criminal Parker. He's not a nice man. He once shot a double crossing fat dame in the back as she was running away. I might be giving away the ending but its not the story its the art. Just gorgeous to look at. Love this special format. Only 2 bucks. Highly recommended. Background from IDW publishing here. Related: I also enjoyed the first two issues of Strange Science Fantasy by phenom Scott Morse. I was more blown away, again, by the art rather than the story. The visuals are a perfect mind-meld of Eisner technique and Kirby vision. Not well written, however. Felt poetic though. Could you do an adaptation of Ribofunk or any Greg Egan short story?

ITEM: I have been blown away by the art of James Stokoe in Orc Stain. Feels like Paul Pope in that the art is mind-blowing but the writing isn't that good, or relatable. Please do something with Moore or Ellis. Characters feel more like impressionistic drug induced sketches than actual people. On the other hand, I try to buy everything that Pope does as well. Nice to see that Heavy Metal still has an influence on the Young People. This guy is drenched in the blood lines of Drulliet. Related: Here's a bit of Drulliet.

Great romance comics that never happened featuring tearful Modok

Great comics that never happened.

New episode of Lucky Ducky called "Deficit Hawk Down"

And here's another episode of Lucky Ducky called Deficit Hawk Down. A brief preview and a riddle: Are republicans for deficit reduction even when it comes to taxes for the rich? Oh its a conundrum