Okay, so I barely use this blog. I put all my weird stuff up on my facebook profile (its private, though a reader or two have emailed me enough to let my defenses down. Otherwise, join the theory of everything comics group.) And then I post stuff from there on foundonthefloor.net

Anyway, its 4:30 in the morning and I ought to be doing other stuff, like sleeping.
So I thought I'd try to analyze "The Devil and the Monk".

Originally, I was writing "The Devil and The Monk" as part of God(tm). The guy in line, right before or right after was supposed to be a character from God(tm) somewhere in the middle of the story. Already, I was thinking non-linearly for God(tm), I wanted it to have all these tangents like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. That sort of structure of storytelling feels like the Internet being forced to be linear and traditional.

When I write long stories, I'll work on little sections, the ones that pop into my head, key scenes, I would sketch/write them out and then work around them.

My intention of this story was to explain how reincarnation can exist in a Christian Cosmological structure, but in a funny way. When I finished my first draft of "The Devil and The Monk", I thought I had something here. I was trying to get the rust off my joints and just dived into the comic.

Page 01 & 02 - (mind you, two pages on this site create 1 page of print. I didn't like how the comic book aspect ratio required you to scroll, so I cut it in half.) So, we're at the Gates of Heaven. I wanted it to feel light. I thought a lever would be very cartoonish, plus I threw in Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is one of those character who you can't fuck up drawing. If you were to put a top hat, suit and beard on a Chinese guy; you would know that that's supposed to be Abe Lincoln.

Page 03 & 04 - Introduction of Hell. I'll have to admit, I appropriated the Monk falling into Hell from a page in Frank Miller's Sin City (that book is why I wanted to do comics). The Devils, I wanted them to be light as well. As if they have a routine. Hell is normal for them. Hell is just as boring and exciting to them as where you live.

When I was originally designing Alavaka (yes, he's unnamed here. yes, there will be a sequel, and that's the name he will be called and that's how I think of him lately)
I was going for a classic devil look: red with horns. But I didn't want him to be the Greek god Pan. So I played around with the horns and I drew him with the horns going through his eyes. Its as if he was constantly suffering and blind: ignorant to God. And that idea of horns being more like an injury really paid off. So I designed all the other Devils with the horn-as-injury ideas.

Page 05 & 06 - The Monk breaks the routines of Hell. I wanted the reader to feel a bit of stoicism here, an oasis in Hell. As if they're looking at a statue of the Buddha. Someone on Stumbleupon criticized me for making this character a Mary Sue, a character that was much too perfect. But the Monk isn't a character to me. I didn't give him a name or history or anything. You don't even know what kind of Buddhist he is. (Okay, by the cut of his robe, he's Thai. But I'm not saying anything about Thai Buddhists, I just think their robes are the most stylish of any Buddhist monk.) To me, he's just an ideal personified.

--Back to Hell: Again, making Hell feel normal and mundane. I also used racial slurs. I'm not saying anything bad about Asians (because I'm one), I just thought this is how Devils would speak. I mean, the White Devil is racist, why not the red ones?

Page 07 & 08 - Man, I was lazy with the backgrounds. Anyway, a reader who was raised Hindu was trying to figure out what the monk was saying in Sanskrit (or Hindi-- not sure) when he said "d'oh" he figured it out and nearly fell off his chair. Anyway, here I start to establish rhythm: Torture. Ohm. Torture. Ohm.

Page 09 & 10 - I wanted the torture to be light, cartoony and childish. Warner Bros. cartoons. Milton Bradley games. Oh, and I know I misspelled "butterflies". I kept the typo because there's something funny and childish about "butterlies"

Page 11 & 12 - Page 11 is either everything I abhor about media at that time or something Christian, since this was part of God(tm). Its how Hell would be for me. Here are the shows:
1. Home Shopping Network
2. Game Shows. As a friend of mine told me, its the death of the American dream.
3. That guy from the Westboro Baptist Church. The "God Hates Fags" guy. I'm sure somebody touched him once.
4&5. Tim and Eric from Adult Swim. I really hate this show and an old roommate really loved it. This show made me nauseous. It was trying to be funny by being awful. I know there's plenty of fans out there. Now think about how you feel about Twilight and Twilight fans. This is exactly how I feel about you.
6. A Christian puppet show. Okay, a concept as crazy and mind blowing as God embodied as a human being and then suffering as a human sacrifice so that we may join God should have nothing to do with hand puppets. This is what happens when you veer away from a Liturgical and Apostolic tradition.
7. TMZ- I don't care about what celebrities are doing. Its as if they are a sort of god. Its as if the death of a young celebrity is a myth that can be analyzed by Joseph Campbell or this or that actress fits a Jungian archetype. The people who I consider celebrities make or say something powerful. Pretty faces are just pretty faces (although, a pretty face with brains, now that's awesome)
8. Jerry Springer
9. I forgot which televangelist this was, but he's obviously a foney.
10. Chris Crocker. I once went to a gallery opening he was also attending. I did not make eye contact. I don't hate on him because he's flaming. Flaming Gay Men can be really funny people with really raunchy senses of humor. I hate him because he's an annoying attention whore and he got famous for being awful.
11. The Loonatics. This was Warner Bros. relaunch of the Looney Toons. They have no idea what they're doing.
12. Jerry Fallwell (I know I spelled it wrong)
13. Flavor of Love. I hate reality shows. And I used to like Public Enemy. No, I haven't seen this show. Again, its something people watch because its awful.
14. I think this is someone attacking a midget on Jerry Springer.
15. Some Christian show
16. A Japanese tv show. That's a guy in drag.

Page 13 & 14 - This is where Alavaka's character design paid off. He's a fallen angel with swords stuck in his eyes. He's mutated and twisted and in pain. Maybe he forgot Heaven. You could sort of feel Alavaka's anger. His frustration, his regret, his ignorance. At this point he's no longer a two dimensional character. He has some complexity. In one single panel, he has a horrible past.

Page 15 & 16 - I wanted to get back into the light-hearted mood. So I drew a crappy blueprint like in a Roadrunner cartoon.

Page 17 & 18 - This was the entire reason why this comic exists. This simple scene. A monk falling into a pregnant girl. She's about 3 months pregnant, when a fetus starts to kick. And I did base her mom off of Hilary Clinton. I didn't intend to say anything political. Its just that I liked how she looked and dressed.

Page 19 & 20 - I felt sad when I drew and wrote this part. I think after I established that Alavaka was a 3 dimensional character, his emotions came out better.He had a sense of loss and emptiness. He was always empty, and he thought torturing souls would fill that. But its as if he's more aware of that emptiness by being around this monk.

Suburbia is a type of Hell.

Page 21 & 22 - When I wrote this part, it just made sense. It just seemed natural. I felt something, a satisfaction, the same sort of feeling when I finished "Speak No Evil" I originally intended it to end at page 18, but there was something about that Devil that needed to be resolved.

From some of the comments and emails I've gotten about this comic, its as if I wrote a Sutra or something. I'm not Buddhist. I might know more about Buddhism than the average American, and I've tried some Buddhist meditation. But I'm Gnostic Christian and that has a sort of "poetry" that's more closer to Buddhism than it was with American Christianity.

Labels: blog, comics, God(tm), my work, religion

So I was performing in this play a while ago. No lines at all, but I was a very important character.

Its actually a pretty cool show I was part of. There's five 10 minute plays. The audience votes for three to continue next week.

The one I was in, Secret Word, lasted two episodes.

But if you're ever in East Hollywood and want to check out a late show, check out Serial Killers.

Labels: my work

If you've been paying attention, I had some computer problems lately.

I'm starting up a new section entitled "Citizen Kane Could Suck My ****"

This entire section will be in Flash, so if you have a slow connection, please be patient.

Also, I'm not updating weekly. At least for now. Maybe some time after I finish "Citizen Kane Could Suck My ****" but maybe not.

Anyway, if you haven't read "Joeb! Look Out!"

And if you haven't started at the beginning at all, go here.

Labels: comics, God(tm), my work, updates

Someone translated POTATOE! A Children's Book for Adults into Polish. I've sort of forgotten this was posted up online.



Check it out

Thanks drPepper!

Labels: comics, my work

In case you don't subscribe to the Rss Update feed, my good computer has hit a bad virus. So, in the meantime, check out this photoshop painting which I did on New Years Eve.


Shiina Ringo by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

Labels: blog, God(tm), my work, updates

I was also interviewed about the project. Check it out!


http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/12/unbound-elan-trinidad-on-god-tm/#more-29247

Labels: blog, God(tm), my work, review

At Webcomic Beacon they celebrated this week, their 2nd year of podcasting. They also featured my interpretation of their mascot, Becky, as this week cover image.

Check out their gallery to see the complete image.

Over the last year or so, they've been supportive of Theory of Everything Comics, so check them out.

Labels: comics, my work, podcast

This was the last episode I worked on at the Simpsons. (Well, I hope its not the last) I mainly did crowd scenes and a bunch of scenes that got edited out.

Labels: animation, my work, simpsons

Every now and then a character runs off and does its own thing. This will happen to a writer from time to time. They would have created a plot and intended their character to follow it.

But it doesn't.

Instead it does its own thing, or at least, in order for the writer to be true to the character, the character must do something the writer never intended.

An organism is defined by the limitation its DNA gives it. A human being is a slave to his psyche, to his limitations and rules and set parameters.

This makes for interesting writing.

The human brain is the most advanced simulation system known to man. Lets say we program a character. Create its limitation. Is it male or female? race? age? did its parents die when it was a child? etc, etc.

And now you run that program in a simulation system in other words, your imagination: your "I" "Magi" "Nation". And then you see what happens.

Lets make it more interesting by throwing in other characters, other programs and see what happens. These programs seem to define themselves more. They know what they aren't because they have another program to compare itself to. They play each other. They effect each other. Or they create each other, or help each other develop.

When I create a major character, I sit down with him and talk to him. What is love? What do you hate? What did you want to be when you were ten? The program creates parameters.

And the more parameters and rules a character has, so many that at times they conflict, it has to make a decision and now it has further developed-- the more realistic he seems.

Labels: Lessons in Cartooning, my work

Elan' Rodger Trinidad wishes for motivation and inspiration. For lighting to strike my crown, passing through my arm, to my hand, to pen, to paper: the fervent work of God Almighty or the Devil himself.

Or possibly both.

I want my mind to split open so I may receive this light of inspiration. The type that comes from the ether and inspires every child at play, and every madman to sin, and every genius to push us forward, and every saint to love.

I want it. Like an addict I want it. Like a lover torn from me, I long for it. Like a breath long held, its there but not.

Its not ready yet.
Its not there yet.

I know I will have my night, when hand and mind are one. When my heart is poured upon panel to panel to panel and my word balloons are poetry to those of the right zeitgeist and persuasion.

I have no choice but to be patient. My storm shall come and it will hit me. And I will wake up and remember exactly why I do this and remember that few women can present a love that rivals this feeling.

I want it.
I can taste it.
Its almost ready.
A few nights? a week?

Its almost here.

Labels: Lessons in Cartooning, my work

I have a talent for finding weird shit, so I thought I'd make a site for it.

www.foundonthefloor.net

I might repost things I've already posted here.

Labels: found on the floor, links, my work

I just got a new banner!

But I'm not sure if I'll use it. I will be at "Things That Are Square" (table B04) for San Diego Comic Con, a very good friend's table who's letting me sqwat at her table. If my banner messes with her table, design-wise or whatever-wise then I won't use the banner.

You can follow me on my Twitter. I'll be updating it at Comic Con so you can find me for signings, small talk, or if you just want to do me a favor and get me a soda.

http://twitter.com/T_of_E_comics

Labels: blog, events, my work, updates

With the unexpected death of Michael Jackson, I wanted to post a drawing I did of him that was published in a short-lived magazine that debuted (and canceled) in 2005. Unfortunately, I can't find this image on the web. I have a copy of the magazine somewhere, but it would require me to look in boxes and I'm too lazy to do this.

Instead, here is the article about the illustration that caused a bit of controversy.

Michael Jackson Image Deemed "Pornographic" By U.S. Postal Service
Author: BERNARD FOX Associated Press Writer
---Los Angeles, CA
The U.S. Postal Service notified the Los Angeles-based publisher of a national humor magazine today that the image of Michael Jackson on the magazine's back cover is "pornographic", and that as a result, the USPS refuses to mail the magazine to thousands of subscribers.
The image in question is a one-panel color cartoon on the outside cover of the recent issue of RAVEN Magazine, a national humor magazine for men. It depicts the pop singer in his signature crotch-grabbing dance pose. At the same time, Jackson seems to be putting his other hand in the pants of a young boy who wears a shocked expression on his face. The image is captioned, "Michael Jackson, 1993-2003, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and seems to refer to the two cases of very similar molestation charges leveled against the singer, one in 1993 and another ten years later.
Post Office Supervisor Heather Ortega in the bulk mail center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida said the one-panel cartoon of Michael Jackson was "sexual" and so the mailing of it is prohibited by the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. She said, "It's right in front of me while we speak. Personally, I think it's hilarious. But just like the Eminem video. That's considered offensive too". Ortega is refering to the recent video by rapper Eminem depicting Jackson chasing after young boys and trying to get them onto his bed.
RAVEN Magazine publisher Zane Valenti responded, "I doubt there's anyone who would feel anything sexual looking at this totally satirical cartoon which is clearly meant to be funny. Who needs to be protected from seeing this cartoon? Nobody. This is totally silly and is a sign of just how far out of hand things have gotten in this country."
Valenti said that the forbidden magazines will still be mailed to subscribers after being placed inside opaque envelopes and readdressed, causing delay and additional cost.

Although Michael Jackson was a freak of nature, he was also a talented superstar. The sort of world-wide phenomenon that you'll probably never see again. Its very hard to feel any sort of mourning to a man who may or may not be a pedophile, was or wasn't proud of his heritage, and may or may not have been an animatronic automoton.

But I'll admit, when I was a kid I would try to do the moonwalk, emulate his "woo" and listen to my brother's Michael Jackson records with glee.

And when I hear "Smooth Criminal" my head tends to bob.

Labels: music, my work, video

http://twitter.com/T_of_E_comics

I don't plan to tell you what I'm doing every single minute of my life.

But I do plan on tweeting every minute when I'm at conventions, signings or other events.

Think of it, if you want to see if I'm available to do a sketch or something, you could find out if I'm at the table.

Or maybe I'm heading to a panel discussion, and instead of walking around the floor at Comic Con, you think-- that sounds like a good discussion.

Maybe I'm completely hung over, and instead of going to my table expecting I'd be there, you'd know that I'm vomiting into a toilet.

Labels: blog, comics, God(tm), my work, Speak No Evil, updates

Just look at all the comments people have left on the shout box [most likely for God(tm)]

Olia Hoshi says "Nice, I like it."

Willetta Markham raved "Nice, I liked it."

Guntar Sheffield cried out with sheer joy "Very nice, I loved it."

Fionna Boland whispered in girlish glee "Very nice, I like it."

Agosto Kuruppillai yelled out of a fiftieth floor window "Very nice, I loved it."

Leona Willhoff communicated in sign language "Very nice, I liked it."

Hakeem Bress forged a neon sign using his knowledge of noble gases and talents in glass blowing exclaiming to the world "Nice, I liked it."

Granger Herod developed a new system of mathematics which uses nothing but prime numbers and fractions in order to formulate the simple and elegant idea of "Very nice, I like it."

Harbert McColl murdered a drifter that only exists in his mind and used the imaginary blood to spell out "Nice, I like it."

Dyane Farmer lost two colleagues during her climb to the top of Mt. Everest and planted a flag that states her feelings about Theory of Everything Comics which spells in Sanskrit: "Very nice, I love it."

Elli Capes was a 16th century sea going Captain who had mystical visions of the 21st century. One of his visions was of Theory of Everything Comics and in his memoirs, which, at the time were deemed evidence of his madness, gave a positive review of a web comic that did not yet exist and it said in remarkable handwriting: "Nice, I love it."

Kelly Buggie, through her psychic link with her male half-breed Chihuahua expressed, without words or facial cues, in consummate canine brainwaves "Very nice, I love it."

Wang Reiser had a car accident that left half of his body susceptible to the elements. Through a secret Canadian Government Project, that missing half was recreated, but as a robot. It took fifteen years for the Canadian Government to find an adequately realistic voice box. And as soon as his new voice box was 100% functional, he could only respond to the new and interesting web comic created by Elan' Rodger Trinidad. And in a voice that uncannily synthesized the tone and tamber of musician/actor Tom Waits, he said "Nice, I liked it."

...and then gave a pretty good interpretation of Tom Waits "Chocolate Jesus."

Thank you, all of you for your love of my work. If anyone would like to continue the tradition liking and loving my work, you are very welcome to. Just go to our homepage http://www.theoryofeverythingcomics.com/, scroll down a bit, and write in the shout box.

Labels: blog, God(tm), my work, review

This is the fastest I've done a section.

...Well, technically, I didn't draw it.

...No, correction, I just didn't draw it at all! (except for the coke can and the bowl of matzah ball soup).

I have a new respect and jealousy for clip art comics.



Check it out from the beginning.

Labels: God(tm), my work, updates

So I got an email from a fan this morning. I think he was asking me about my creative process. I thought I'd refine my answer for the blog.

First off, when I write a comic, I draw and write it at the same time. I make a very messy comic book in my sketchbook. I make scribbles to indicate composition and I write in the word balloons as I go along. This is my first draft.

My second draft, I type a script based on the first one. I fix the dialogue, sometimes I get new ideas and make notes of something else to draw.

My third draft, I draw a comic based on the lat two drafts.


I'll go back and forth between typing and drawing. I get different ideas as I take on the role of writer and different ideas as I take on the role of artists. Depending on how I feel about the comic, I'll go back and forth between sketching and typing. But the draft before I draw is always a drawing draft.

That's because I take my sketchy drawing page, pop it in photoshop, pop in perspective guides (somtimes its a grid, sometimes I'll grab a photo of a building and alter it to my needs. I don't like drawing a million lines from a vanishing point with my ruler.) I'll also do the lettering and figure out how to compose the word balloons. I will also edit the dialogue as I do this.

I print that out. All the lines in light blue.

Then with a blue pencil, I draw in the detail. Then I ink it.

Next it gets scanned in. I cut and paste the word balloons from the draft file. And I might do more dialogue changes. I also color it.

Then its ready for the web.

But that's the practical process.

The mental process is a bit harder to explain.

I try to go for a "feeling" in my first draft. I recently took a clowning class. Actually, it was more like an improv class for actors trying to do comedy. The heart of a clown is messing up but being funny. When I was making my class laugh, I had the same sort of "feeling" performing.

In that class, the coach was trying to talk about "the truth", and I don't mean as reason and fact, but he was saying how "the truth" was funny. And it was. It was a sort of poetic truth. When the actors stopped trying to act and stated to be truthful of their frustration, fear, and failure to not get a laugh, they became funny.

Some of the exercises reminded me of George Carlin. He once went up on stage. He didn't say a single word and made the audience laugh. George Carlin, stood there silent, just being George Carlin, just "being honest" with himself and to the audience.

I try "to be honest". I think real art comes from "being honest" with yourself and "being truthful" to yourself. And if religion is about "truth", philosophy is about "truth", tragedy is about "truth" and science is about fact (which is about "truth") then religion is funny, science is philosophical, tragedy is religious, tragedy is comedic, science is religious, etc. etc. It all blends and connects into the human condition.

I've spent my life trying to not lie to myself. Try to not lie to others (although that's really hard, and I'm honest with myself when I fail, and sometimes I remedy it, eventually.--although in some instances in my life, I have no choice but to bluff). And I try to be honest with my work. In the past few years its been starting to come together.

I don't know if the honesty thing makes any sense. Its sort of like wu-wei, doing without doing. It would probably make more sense to an artist or performer who puts their all into their craft. Or perhaps someone who has studied Zen.

But, according to my readership who've emailed me, this sort of think does make a difference.

Anyway, I got a freelance thingy to finish. The next page will be kind of a jip storywise, but I'll make that up with the next next part.

Labels: blog, Lessons in Cartooning, my work

I drew this for one of my fans, Nic from Georgia. He's the first fan to drop some cash into the paypal.

I'm thinking I might do commissions for fans soon. But I'll get to that when I get a bunch of things out of the way.

Thanks again Nic!

Labels: Art, God(tm), my work

My first Simpsons episode as Character Layout just aired "Four Great Women and a Manicure"(LABF09).

Stuff I worked on (at varying degrees):
All the Nail Salon scenes (except the one after Lisa's story)
Crowds in the queen's court
Daycare guy kicking blocks.
Daycare guy stomping blocks (Me, the Director and Assistant Director kept calling this the "--BUAHH!!!!" scene.)
And various touch-ups throughout the show.

Congrats to the entire crew for a job well done. Thanks to Raymond and everyone at Film Roman for this great experience.

Labels: animation, my work

I was just reading Paul Sloboda's review of God(tm)...again (I'm much too lazy to cut and paste the complete title right now, and at some point I ought to memorize it)

One of the things he likes is the pixellation of corporate logos.

The usage of low-resolution pixellation in the comic is a brilliant touch. I'm sure more than one person will think it's a problem with their browser. He employs this approach on a number of corporate names and logos, and it seems to walk hand in hand with the contractually obscured nature of the comic's title. Legally, I'm sure Elan couldn't stretch the copyright concept of "Fair Use" far enough to use the real St*tb*cks logo in every instance he has it obscured in the comic... but artistically, why would he want to? If copyright laws don't allow him to do it, it's their shortcoming he's illustrating, in their bold and clunky pixellated matrices.

There are several reasons why I do this:

1) I don't want anyone to sue me but I do believe in fair use. Its weird that modern media has to be a little careful to use corporate logos in order to artistically comment and express the realities of our modern world. After all, these billboards, t-shirts, banner ads, etc. etc. have invaded our world are part of the flora and fauna of our modern world. And depicting this or that fast food logo or this or that erectile dysfunction ad should be natural when we contribute to this culture.

I mean, I could use the real logos. But when this book sees print, I might be over using the logos so much that I could get sued.

2) I find it distracting when artists use fake logos. Look at Geof Darrow's work on Hard Boiled. There's familiar red cans that say "Cola Cola" in nice friendly letters and fake advertisements that whirlwind into the visual noise of urban life. I'm not criticizing Darrow's brilliant work, but you tend to pay more attention to the ads than you would to the ads in your everyday life.

I wanted something familiar, like when you see a guy on COPS and his t-shirt is all blurry. Or when you're out and about, past bus billboards, and you only give the ad half a thought because you realize your date stood you up (you know who you are).

There's something impressionistic about the cacophony of advertisements these days. And I chose to make it literal.

3) Some ads are just squiggles I draw in Photoshop and then I hit the mosaic filter. Making obscured ads is less time consuming than drawing fake ones. I'm also a very lazy artist.

4) One theme that is apparent, or will become apparent, in this story is equating corporate entities to deities. Corporations have the same rights as people. That's so the individual(s) who own a corporation don't have to deal with the fuss about paying taxes or buying pencils or going to jail.

But corporations have sort of become our pagan gods. We pray to them by buying their goods and services. They employ middle management and accountants as their priests. When we appease them, they make our economy prosper.

And when we say their name in vain and slander, they send their lawyers down from the heavens and hand us a cease and desist notice.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not some liberal who hates anything and everything corporate. But I am a moderate who looks at corporations with a weary eye, just like I look at the guy who asks me for change. I have benefited from corporate goods, services, and employment (especially employment) over the years. I'll be good to them if they shower me with electronics and movies and processed food. But corporations aren't gods. They're more like a cow that has walked into your living room. You want its milk and meat, but you don't want to have to plan your life around a cow that is in your living room.

And that's why we should vote for leaders who will (hopefully) take the cow outside and milk it for us, or in some cases, take it to the slaughter house.

Corporations are creatures that will do anything and everything to eat money. If what they do is helpful to us, we should reward a corporation for making our lives easier. They will tell us lies and half truths to make them believe in their brand, but in the end, you'll realize that this deodorant isn't helping you get laid, despite what the magic box says. But you like how it makes you smell because its a better option than how you'd usually smell.

5) Pixellation looks really cool. I wonder why it isn't used more often.

6) By obscuring a logo, since the colors were chosen to be associated with that brand, you still understand what that brand is.

Anyway, I hope this all makes me sound really smart and that I never get sued. If I ever do get a cease and desist notice, then that cease and desist notice will be used to obscure that logo.

Labels: blog, God(tm), my work, religion, review

Down at Fool's Gold Press Paul Sloboda did a review of God(tm). He says many nice things about it. And I say many nice things about his book. Lately he's been putting up comics online (partially because I told him to).

Also at Webcomics Overlook I'm reviewed along side all the other Eisner Nominees. This is a much more unbiased review. I'm not El Santo's favorite. But also he doesn't get that this story was a comedy and a tragedy all at the same time.

...either that or I can't make up my mind what genre to stick to when I write stuff.


At least he makes reasonable arguements.

Labels: awards, Eisner Awards, God(tm), my work, review, Speak No Evil

There's a nice little article about this years Eisner Digital Comics Nominees. You might not be eligible to vote for my comic for the Eisners, but you could at least vote for it on their little poll.

Visit suvudu.com and if you feel like voting for the underdog, vote for "Speak No Evil"

Also, at webcomicbeacon.com the mention "Speak No Evil" and "God(tm) (c) 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental." This is probably the first bit of press that-- what I wish to be the Theory of Everything Comics flagship (though it probably won't end up that way) has ever gotten.

It's probably because I'm telling everyone that its okay to just call it "God(tm)" and that the entire title would take up a good portion of the podcast.

Labels: Eisner Awards, my work, podcast, review, Speak No Evil

So, I had this print comic I did a while back ago which I put on the shelf. I thought it was pretty good.

Now I realize it needs a major overhaul.

Since the Eisner nomination, since this is the most completed comic, I thought I could just show this to a publisher say, "Look at me, I'm a nominee!" and it'll get published!

But. damn. shit. I promised myself I'd finish "A Dream of Conscious Thought"

sigh

I've promised myself that I'd work on God(tm) on Sunday.

Damn, I gotta put it to the side. There's that part of me that's a heartbroken angry 23-year-old who needs it.

Well, I promise that I'll have other content posted. Some written by me. Some a bit simpler.

Labels: blog, God(tm), my work, updates

I have finished two sections of God(tm) (c) 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental.

Or "God Trademark" when referred to orally.

Unfortunately, my site is horribly designed and you can't tell where part one ends or part two begins. So here's some help:

Part One.

Part Two.

At least, set-up wise, I've taken care of the back story. I just need to get Joeb Kim out of the cafe. (Now I can work on redesigning my site)

Labels: comics, God(tm), my work, updates

The thing with Speak No Evil was that it felt like a neglected child who I thought had potential. Sure, the first born got all the attention and I was concentrating a lot of time on the youngest, but I knew that my middle child was special.

I'm proud to say that Speak No Evil: Melancholy of A Space Mexican is the recipient of the Webcomic Beacon Standalone Simplex Beaky Award. I didn't even know I was nominated because I haven't had time to check out the Webcomic Beacon podcast for a while.



Yes, the Eisners Awards are much more established and much bigger and you actually get a physical award. But my problem with Eisner's Best Digital Comics Award is that there should be more than one, like Best Daily Digital Comic or Best Digital Comic Story, etc. etc. I get the feeling that the judges who picked the nominees aren't that familiar with the webcomic world.

I've found a few blogs about the Eisner Digital Comics Nominees, complaining about how they've never heard of them. They talk about how there are much more popular webcomics that deserve an Eisner nomination.

But the Beakys are much more down-to-earth. The judges LOVE webcomics and the podcast helps me keep up with what's out there on the net and how much my website needs to be re-designed.

I like how they think my comic is good, but they seem very uncomfortable explaining why it is good.

I must be doing something right.



Basically, this award means acceptance from the burgeoning and evolving webcomics community. A community that might eventually take over the traditional print comics/comic shop system.

...but it would've been nice if they contacted me.

Hopefully, this might be a good barometer to the Eisner winner.

Check out their podcast.

Labels: awards, comics, Eisner Awards, my work, podcast, Speak No Evil

Hello new guests. I am fully aware of how much my site's navigation sucks. Hopefully I can remedy this soon.

Anyway, a few things off my chest.

Oddly, when I was writing Speak No Evil: Melancholy of A Space Mexican I was approaching it as a comedy. I actually thought that it was a tragic comedy. Now that I have some distance from the creation process, the subtitle doesn't seem as appropriate anymore. Some friends had a theory that I viewed it as a comedy to deal with how depressing it was. I have a theory that comedy and tragedy are two sides of the same coin and when you feel like you're making something of quality, naming it a comedy or tragedy doesn't really matter.

Oh well, it seemed like a good idea to name it "Space Mexican" at the time and I respect the unemployed artist I knew from a year ago.

I just hope that the comic doesn't come off as patronizing. So far, one mexican has said it wasn't.

Other friends have asked, "I though Devil and the Monk would be nominated for an Eisner." As much as Devil and the Monk has been a staple of Stumbleupon hits to my site, I felt there were a lot of things wrong with it, technically. I would've submitted God(tm), but as of today, I still don't think it makes sense (I just need one more page, then it'll sort of make sense.)

I've noticed in the webcomics community, people are saying "I've never heard of these comics." Well, let me explain what's going on. The publisher, in this case digital comic creator, submits their comic to the Eisner people (or to be more precise, Jackie Estrada). The rules for Digital Comics favor long form comics. And the long form comic isn't as popular as the daily strip webcomic.

I think that there should be at least two, if not five categories for webcomics. One for daily strips. Although, traditionally, daily strips are the realm of the National Cartoonists Society. Comic books are the realm of the Comic Book industry. And there has been debate if a Comic Strip and a Comic book should even be considered as the same thing.

I personally don't think so. Its like having a five line poem and a 305 page novel up for a Pulitzer.

Anyway, the long-form format on the web isn't as developed or as popular as the daily strip. Mainly because people who do comic books could, 20 years ago, self-publish. And the people who did daily strips, 20 years ago, could only published through syndication or local newspapers, no independence. So, of course, the daily strip jumped on the net with much more fervor.

Anyway, I'm up against some really good talent. I think my only strengths are my story, the oddness and originality of it, and its depressing. Often times, people confuse depressing stories with good stories.

Though I'd never say my comic isn't good.

Labels: awards, blog, Eisner Awards, my work, Speak No Evil

So this morning I was surprised to get this e-mail:

Congratulations! "Speak No Evil" has been nominated for a 2009 Will Eisner Comics Industry Award in the Best Digital Comic category. I'm still in the process of verifying all the Eisner nominations, but we are planning the official announcement for tomorrow.

Ballots will be going out in mid-April, and the winners will be announced at Comic-Con International at the Eisner Awards ceremony on July 24.

Best,

Jackie Estrada
Eisner Awards Administrator

Of course I called my Mom.

You can check out the comic here. Or go to the mirror site: http://tinyurl.com/SNEmirror

Labels: comics, Eisner Awards, my work, Speak No Evil

By night I work on comics. By day I work in animation. This is my first job that I am required to use a pencil instead of a mouse.

This isn't the first episode I worked on, but its the first one that aired. It was the "problem" episode where people had to work on the weekend and do overtime. Partially to make a St. Patrick's day deadline.

I only did two or three shots in this entire show. Its not even enough to get credit as Character Layout.

approx. 7:35 - Glasses clink

approx. 18:49 - Policeman hitting table (though I think someone changed that)

approx. 18:50 - 2 Policeman turn table over. (Forgot if I actually revise that or if I just had it shortly and then someone else got it.)

But it I learned a few things from the director.

My first real episode (the one I actually animated main characters) that airs either in late April or May.

Labels: animation, my work, simpsons

Since that piece I did has brought me some attention, or at least upped my numbers whenever you search my name on google, I've been also searching "watchmen hostess" and have found other parodies.

My earliest memories of the Hostess Ads was that when I was a kid, I had an issue of Spider-Man with a Spider-Man Hostess Ad and it REALLY CONFUSED ME. I thought it was part of the comic book. I was, maybe, in the second or third grade. But the beauty of these ads was the campy way that Hostess products were used to save the world or something.

1)The first, I have no idea who did it.

I like the "voice-over editing". Its a nice homage to Alan Moore's words and timing. But this thing was scanned in low rez and the fruit was just sort of hacked out and pasted on.

2)I think this was in the back of an issue of Deep Fried by Jason Yungbluth, but I'm not sure.

One thing I hate about parodies, not because of the artist, but because of the legal reasons, is that all the names are replaced. I think this artist could've gotten away with naming the character Rorschach.
Giving Twinkies to dogs to distract them actually seems realistic. It might've actually worked in the Watchmen world. And what I loved about the Hostess Ads was that the use of Twinkies as a solution to crime made sense only in a Hostess Comic Book Universe.
But the dialog is pretty funny. The dialog's in the Hostess world.
I didn't like the coloring, too many gradients, wrong color pallet (but that might also be a legal thing), its obviously done in photoshop, it would've looked beautiful if he just used the color halftone filter and made it look like bad printing. The thing I love about a good parody is that for a second, you're not sure if this is the real thing or not. I've worked with Photoshop too much and if he just added that one detail-- it would've made up for the use of fake names.

3)Here's a well-rendered one done by Brian Michael Bendis... I think.


What I love about it is that it pretty much sticks to Dave Gibbons's style. It looks like it was colored with marker, though. But its better than making it all slick and photoshoppy. But the semen joke, its just too adolescent for me. Its an easy joke. Its a desperate joke.

4)Of course I'm biased. I have a high opinion of my work:

The biggest difference about my Watchmen/Hostess Parody is that it takes place in a universe that has Hostess Comics Ad logic. The others take place in a Watchmen world. And I wanted it to be devoid of any real logic. So preventing rape with the use of Hostess Fruit Pies makes no sense in our world or the Watchmen world.

It did cross my mind to have Silk Spectre I be the victim. But then it wouldn't be funny. Sexual violence toward women is really really fucked up. I don't find it funny at all. I was once an animator on a cable show where there was a rape joke involving a female character and a bunch of inmates. If I was the one assigned to animate that scene, I would decline. I have no idea if that was eventually cut by the network execs.

But male rape is funny...
At least to the guy doing the raping.

Also I think the first unsaid rule of being a man is that you don't get raped. A boy can get raped, and that's horrible and he ought to get some help. A girl can get raped and that's a lot more horrible, especially when such a union creates a child. But man on man forced sexual copulation-- its demeaning... but its really funny when its happening to someone who deserves to be demeaned.

(Just to make myself clear, I see nothing homosexual about man rape. Its sexual sport like in Sodom and Gommorah or the State Penn. There are much more hilarious and interesting things about gay culture than man sex. Like when you're in the Castro, you should check out Little Orphan Andy's you gotta love their mascot)

Plus the line, "Oh no! The Comedian is raping Richard Nixon!" has a ring to it.

The beauty of Watchmen was that it deconstructed what began as a childish genre and made it adult (or adolescent-- if you look at how it influenced the genre too). So I took adult characters and themes and put them back in a childish world. In other words, another difference between my Hostess Parody and the others is that its a deconstruction of a deconstruction.

I will confess that I "inked" Dave Gibbons's original work. "Inked" in a "Chasing Amy" sense. I wanted it to look like Gibbons pencilled it and maybe someone else inked it. I didn't color it because it wasn't for print or for the public to think of it as print, plus I was lazy.

The back story, or at least the fictitious back story, of this piece was that someone was payed to make this comic as a real ad, but it got rejected for obvious reasons. It eventually resurfaced at an art exhibit. Besides, I find original comic book art beautiful. You get to see where the artist made their mistakes, sometimes they used different inks so that some of the linework fades to a purplish color. Its a physical object, something that was handmade-- not like a comic book which is machine made.

I think the best parodies are near forgeries. And I did my best to make this a faithful forgery.

But the only thing in this piece that looses the authenticity is the Hostess packages in the end. Now it doesn't show on the jpeg, but if you saw the real thing, it looks like a computer print out pasted onto the page because it is a computer print out pasted onto the page. I originally wrote in red pencil, "apple" & "cherry", but that didn't sell the joke. It didn't have the right impact at the end (just like the movie). I didn't have time to draw it in, or make a believable print-out, I just found a pic of an original ad, did my photoshop magic, cut, paste, wa-la!

Anyway, I've been thinking too much about this piece all week. Hopefully, getting all this out of my head will help me move on. Hopefully, I could stop jerking myself off with this damned piece and do things that don't require me riding on the coattails of Comic Book Legends.

(But I am thinking of doing other Hostess parodies that also look like artwork that's 20 or 30 years old. Hey, this one sold, I'm going to get laid off again for hiatus at the end of the week. I needs the money.)

And here's one last thought.

Labels: Alan Moore, blog, comics, my work, Watchmen

http://io9.com/5167686/the-last-watchmen-story-you-need-ever-read

So I'm mentioned there too. A lot more comments on it.

...damn, should've charged 500 hundred for that piece.

Anyway, I assume that eventually Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore will get links to this site on their e-mail. So, addressed to both of them, here is an open letter:

Dear Revered Comic Book Gods,

I have enjoyed your work for many years. I have a bunch of "Give Me Liberty", I'm sorry, I haven't read "The Originals".

And to Mister Moore, you are why I read Tarot cards and why cute girls buy me drinks at bars because I do Tarot readings for them. You are my favorite writer. Please do not put a curse on me like you did to the movie to make it late.

---yeah, I'm a bit brain dead, I'm at work, about ready to go home and I've been watching old episodes of AstroBoy on a DVD player as I animate crowd scenes.

I really would have no idea what to say to Alan Moore or Dave Gibbons.

Labels: Alan Moore, blog, my work, review, Watchmen

I was mentioned on the comics blog, "The Beat". Why? Because I depicted a US president getting sexually molested by a comic book character, that's why.

Actually, its more of a link to the LA Weekly blog. But I'm mentioned by name anyway and it ups my numbers when I narcissisticly google my name.

Although, I have had one e-mail asking where they could find an image of the entire thing and pointed them to this here blog.

Labels: Alan Moore, comics, my work, review, Watchmen

http://blogs.laweekly.com/style_council/art/rorschach-blue-marilyn-watchme/



"So wrong, and yet so dead on."

Labels: Alan Moore, Art, comics, my work, review, Watchmen

I just sold this piece at Meltdown Comics. As I've heard, a guy who works on Family Guy bought it.

It was placed at this weird corner which was sort of hard to see. My friend who curated the gallery said that he put it there so that the laughter would echo in the room. I think that's one of the reasons. But I think, partially, its because of the subject matter.

I'm not complaining. I'd put it there too and I was a little worried on how it would be received. The thing got sold. And it was fun standing there to see people's reactions: laughter or confusion.

I have two other pieces at the gallery show.

And not only am I referencing Watchmen but also old ads you'd find in comics.

(added March 12)
Also, because I didn't expect for this piece to get so viral, I'd like to give credit where credit is due. Some panels (especially panel 4) I "inked" from the original Gibbons work. Some, I copied by eye. Some, a combination (in panel 3 its the same pose for the Comedian, but different costume).

The joke wouldn't be as clear if I didn't "ink" Mr. Gibbon's fine work.

And since I made money on this and I am not a thief, I will share the meager 150 bucks I made on this piece with Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons ONLY in the form of a meal on me, or perhaps some drinks, or maybe pie.

yes... a fruit pie.

Labels: Alan Moore, Art, comics, my work, Watchmen

PHYSICAL NOSTALGIA

@ MELT GALLERY

7522 Sunset Blvd, L.A., CA, 90046

323.851.7223

March 7 – 22, 2009

Artist’s Reception Saturday, March 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Melt Gallery at Meltdown is proud to present PHYSICAL NOSTALGIA, A group art showing that will serve as an examination of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s graphic novel WATCHMEN and how the themes and images contained therein have permeated pop art culture.

An artist’s reception party will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and is sponsored by Asahi beer.

Curator Marz Richards says, “PHYSICAL NOSTALGIA will exhibit a wild variety of art styles and media to present facets of this seminal work that will be lost as WATCHMEN transitions from the page to the silver screen. Now is the last moment for the knot-tops and grizzled vigilantes of art to stand up and show us what WATCHMEN means to them as the last five minutes of the doomsday clock tick away.”

Exhibiting artists include Eldon Asp, Steven Daily, Howard Hallis, Mack Hill, Jim Mahfood aka FOOD ONE, Kiyoshi Nakazawa, Jeret Ochi, Osgood Perkins, Raymond Persi, Renfield, Fill Marc Sagadraca, Christopher Stangl, Elan Trinidad and Gustavo Garcia Vaca with items from the private collections of John Cogan and David Mandel.

The show will continue in exhibition from March 7 until Saturday, March 22 at the Melt Gallery.

www.meltcomics.com

Labels: Alan Moore, Art, comics, events, my work, Watchmen

This is a student film I did back in 2002. I'm still not exactly sure what I made, but it was a lot of fun making it.

Labels: my work, video

Labels: blog, comics, my work

From now on, we'll just refer to this comic as God(tm) or "God - trademark" when referred to orally. The title is still God(tm) (c) 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. but none of you are sharp enough to remember that.

Anyway, Part 1 of "Meet Joeb Kim" is completed. As far as the story goes, nothing still makes any sense. Although, the next part will start to make sense.

But I have to rewrite it. And you won't see anything from the second part for a while.

So I suggest that you e-mail me at elanrodgertrinidad@gmail.com if you want to be updated. Although I don't expect too many e-mails because I haven't gotten to the really good part yet.

Labels: comics, God(tm), my work, updates

I've been working on my own Tarot Deck for sometime. I've been replacing archetypes and symbols with those that are much closer to me. These are drawn, actual Tarot size, because I don't want to use reproductions of my art in a reading, but actual original art.


0. The Fool by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

0. The Fool

Here we have young, "New Hope" Luke Skywalker. He is starting of on his journey, uncertain of the path ahead. "With the blast shield on I can't see anything!" He doesn't know where the path will lead him. Off the cliff? R2-D2 is his loyal sidekick. In the Rider-Waite Deck, it's a dog. I forgot what the white rose meant, but it was in the Rider-Waite Deck and I thought I'd keep it there.

4 of swords by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

The Four of Swords

Han Solo in Carbonite. He's resting, contemplating, hibernating.

3 of Cups by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

The Three of Cups

I'm sure there's a much more lengthy way to explain this card, but when I read, I just simply say "party".

In the Rider-Waite Deck, basically three girls with pumpkins on the ground. I chose anime girls [from left to right] Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya), Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangeleon) and Haruko Haruhara (FLCL). All are forecful sort of characters which I find charming in a fictitious girl.

7 of wands by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

The Seven of Wands

A Shaolin Monk fights off enemies. Usually the conflict seems to come out of nowhere. There's a conflict.

9 of pentacles by ~theory-of-everything on deviantART

The Nine of Pentacles

Basically, I replaced the woman in the Rider-Waite version with that robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky. I usually read this as a sort of satisfaction, but with possible troubles. Though, I'll admit, I don't get this card in many reading and don't know it as well.

I've been having a lot of downtime at work, and unfortunately, I don't have photoshop on my machine. So I haven't had time work on mine or anyone's comic during the day. I think I'll post five new cards every week.

Labels: my work, Tarot

2008 was an interesting year, but I'm glad to see it go because most of it was spent "funemployed". Although I am thankful for several things, like people who actually read my comics and the high profile job which looks good on a resume.

But I should gear up for this year and try to create some nice goals for myself.

1) Publish A Dream of Conscious Thought on Lulu.
Some years ago I started a comic book company with some high school friends. This company failed miserably. At this company, I started a full color comic book called A Dream of Conscious Thought. It was a metaphysical sort of love story and was a way for me to deal with some love-life drama. Since that time I've gone through a relationship, gone on a few dates, and have found ways to make Ms."Love-life drama" feel very uncomfortable. So I'm not as emotionally motivated to finish the book, but its something I ought to finish. So probably after I'm done with the first part of God™ (and its only a few pages away from part one from completion, I'll prep A Dream of Conscious Thought: book one for Lulu which can be ready by spring or even earlier.

2) Finish my Tarot Card set
Maybe a year and a half ago, I started to redesign the Rider-Waite Tarot with symbols of my own (a lot of Star Wars and Kung Fu). I want to finish it and actually do readings with it (because it impresses chicks).

3) Take Yoga classes and maybe a dance class
I'm thirty and I don't exercise. Besides, I heard people who took Yoga have a better awareness of their body and doing that would probably help me with animation and some weird stage performances that I'm involved with. I wanna take a dance class because I don't want to dance sarcastically like a hipster when I'm drunk.

4) Re-design this site
I forgot what my hit average is. But it isn't bad for a horribly designed website. Sure I know Flash and I'm sure I could take a class, but I really don't have the time for that. I'd rather put my energy into making comics and art and have someone else worry about scripting. I would really like a forum for this site because I've found on reddit.com, people having interesting discussions about The Devil and The Monk and Speak No Evil that can potentially go in interesting directions. But this is something I could probably worry about when I'm on hiatus. I'm not sure when that's going to happen, and really, since my pockets were emptied out last year, the later the better.

These are the main things. I might quit smoking this year, but then again I've been saying that for the past couple of years.

Labels: comics, God(tm), holiday, Life, my work, Speak No Evil, updates, Work In Progress

Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!

Labels: holiday, my work, RayRay, video

Whenever I narcissisticly google "Space Mexican" I'll find an entry in a Filipino's blog about it and how I'm Filipino.

I don't have any trouble with this, although I do scratch my head since I haven't found any blogs about "Speak No Evil" on any Mexican blogs. Either I'm not searching hard enough or maybe its because Mexicans are more likely to go out, drink, dance, have a quinceniera, than some Filipinos who stay home and log onto (enter social network website here) all night.

I find a pattern. Filipino blogger who mentions that I'm Filipino.

This clever science fiction story is also a social commentary by Filipino artist Elan Rodger Trinidad. Read the whole piece at Theory of Everything Comics, and don’t forget to check out Elan Rodger’s afterword.

Very easily one of the best online comics I've ever read. "Speak No Evil" is a one-shot scifi webcomic made by a Filipino, Elan Rodger Trinidad. Well worth the few minutes it takes to get through the whole thing.

There's a bunch on livejournal entries, although the Google isn't finding them right now.

I can only speculate why this phenomenon is happening.

1) I mentioned that I was Filipino in the afterward. (Which wasn't a pride thing. I just wanted to show some sort of legitimacy to the story. That this was a story about immigration in general rather than the plight of the Mexicans.)

2) I hit a chord with the Filipinos because the immigration experience depicted was much closer to the Filipino experience than the Mexican experience.

3) A single voice sings "Dahil Sa'yo" while everyone is singing "Besame Mucho".

4) Just as Manny Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya, so too will the Filipino readership of Theory of Everything Comics obliterate the Mexican readership!

5) Mexicans think I'm being racist when I talk about Space Mexicans, or creepily sympathetic (which is LIKE racism).

If you haven't already, check out Speak No Evil: Melancholy of A Space Mexican.

BTW, more on the Filipinos vs Mexicans thing. I just got back from Cancun and visited the Yucatan. Looks just like Bohol.

...except Bohol's got better beaches.

But I gotta admit, the service at the resorts in Cancun was WAY better in Cancun. And free drinks and buffet.

...but Philippines has prettier nature.

...

...

...

...but no free drinks and buffet :(

...

...


PACQUIAO RULES!

Labels: blog, comics, filipino, my work, Speak No Evil

Right now, I have a day job to contend with and some other projects I made promises for. At least God™ © 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. is at a certain part of the story where you can at least have an idea of where I'm going with it comedy-wise.

But to ensure my readers will come back when I finally do come around to working on the comic, here is the basic summary:

A well-known (but unnamed) multi-media and theme park corporation owns the intellectual property of God. A Deacon/accountant named Rev. Joeb Kim, CPA has to stop the Apocalypse.

I know, its a major web comicker faux paus to have a hiatus. But I'm sure that this can all be forgiven since I have been working as an animator (Character Layout is my official title) on a major prime time television show. Plus I'm coloring a creator owned comic book. Plus I'm working on a little Christmas surprise. Plus some other projects I promised for Coachella.

Let's hope I don't flake out.

Anyway, I'll still be posting things up on this blog. I've decided to try to have more of a focus on religiousy sort of things and not just Japanese Girl Rock Bands.

BTW, the first episode I'll be working on will air Spring 2009, most likely around May. I'll let you all know exactly when when I find out.

Labels: God(tm), my work, updates

Okay, two mo' pages kid. (yeah, its getting on a weird tangent)

...still haven't gotten a reaction from Mister Arno yet.

http://theoryofeverythingcomics.com/god/01/GOD01_09b.htm

Labels: friends, God(tm), my work, updates

...at least in the foreseeable future.
So, check out the update for God™ © 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental.

Labels: God(tm), my work, updates

I've colored some previously uncolored pages and added a few more pages. Hopefully we'll see a couple more pages this week.

And if you're new, start here.





And now ladies and gentleman, Miss Macross herself, Lynn Minmay:



And now, ladies and gentleman, Ms. Reba West:



And now ladies and gentleman, an exceptionally cute fobby girl with a video camera, a microphone and too much time on her hands:



I think I'll court her some day.

Labels: anime, comics, God(tm), music, my work, updates

Hey, just to let you know that I'll be up in San Francisco for Alternative Press Expo November 1st and 2nd. (Although I'll probably head out early on the 2nd.)

I'll be at the Fool's Gold Press table selling, trading, or if you're cute, giving away copies of Theory of Everything Comics #1

So, if you're in San Francisco over the weekend and the line for the Chris Ware signing is too damn long, come by the Fool's Gold Press table, I'll sketch ya something nice, chat, maybe even read Tarot (which has actually gotten me a meal once).

Labels: comics, my work, updates

At the podcast Webcomics Beacon they did a short review of Speak No Evil: Melancholy of a Space Mexican.

Someones mic goes out in the middle of the review. I'm amused.

So check out their podcast. I'm always entertained by it, therefore, I will not tell you where to fast forward to, just so you can hear the review.

Labels: comics, my work, podcast, review, Speak No Evil

There's a lot to think about with webcomics. Especially since I'm doing one. So far, the most popular ones are daily strip format. Like PvP, Sinfest and Penny Arcade. One reason why short daily strips are popular is that they don't require that much commitment.

Most people who read webcomics are at work and are taking a break from whatever they've been doing. They want to be entertained for just twenty seconds. They click their bookmark. They forward it to their friends.

Most people don't want to sit in front of a computer a long period of time to read a 40 page comic. They could be spending that same amount of time for something engaging like a video game or chatting or watching videos.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule, and they've written really nice reviews on Stumbleupon, Reddit and have posted links on random blogs. (I find that "The Devil and The Monk" seem to be noticed by atheists and agnostics while "Speak No Evil" is popular among Filipinos on LiveJournal. I hope Chicanos don't think its racist or anything.)

I personally like reading a comic book on a comfortable couch, reclined, head resting on the couch's arm. Its a different experience from reading it on an office chair.

So, what am I to do? I'm not a daily strip guy. Currently, I don't have time for a lot of things.

So I'm considering doing this:

A semi-weekly strip of comics I've never finished called "Work In Progress". They'll be one to five pages long. Think Carol Lay's Story Minute.

When I write a first draft of a comic, they're usually scribbles and some word balloons. At least some of my ideas have a home somewhere out in the collective unconscious.

But, here's the kicker. Some of these comics I wouldn't mind submitting to Zuda or whatever comic book publisher where they own the rights. And I wouldn't mind not drawing them or sharing ownership or even having someone else rewrite them (the deal would vary between different comics). Plus, if an artist was a novice/intermediate, I could teach them what I know about art and comics.

I don't think I'll be able to implement this for a while. I want to prepare these things. Be two months ahead (eight stories prepared).

I want to have something new for my readers at a regular basis since my life outside of this website has been eatting up my time.

Anyone care to comment on my idea?

Labels: comics, my work, Work In Progress

I could've painter out Amy Poehler, but that's too much effort.

Labels: my work, politics

On the Project Shadow Podcast The Award winning "The Devil and The Monk", winner of the 2008 Elan Rodger Trinidad Award in Comic Book Excellence and Bad-assery, was mentioned.

This is a sort of metaphysical Wily Coyote story, and the end is classic.

According to C. E. Dorsett, Project Shadow guy and blogger on Dash Punk.

This is probably the first response where someone found the story more funny than they found it spiritually enlightening. At least he understood the Wily Coyote part, although he seemed to have remembered the beginning all mixed up. He wasn't a fan of my other comics (and strangely, Speak No Evil doesn't seem to get much attention, even though I feel like it was superior in artwork and story structure, plus the first part of God(tm) (c) 2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. has way better art, despite its incompleteness) that means, you ought to fast forward to 40 minutes in the podcast and skip everything else!

Labels: feedback, God(tm), my work, podcast

Don't worry. I'm building up to something.

I've gotten a new job and its been taking up a lot of my time right now. I've finished some pages, but I haven't colored them.

Check out the two new pages.

Labels: comics, God(tm), my work, updates

My European agent and art dealer just notified me that Theory of Everything Comics #1, a mini comic print version of "The Devil & the Monk" and "Speak No Evil" are available at Orbital Manga.

Orbital Manga
4c Orion House,
Upper St. Martins Lane,
London,
WC2H 9NY

tel:0207 2405577

My agent has already booked a future signing at Orbital, but the contract says that I have to become famous and NOT an asshole in order to participate in this future signing.

...the asshole clause of that contract might be broken already.

Labels: comics, my work, updates

This comic is truly profound. One of the main points the Lotus Sutra teaches is that anyone regardless of past deeds can attain enlightenment in this life time. You are also correct about demons being converted and serving as guardians, but not just for temples. Some demons take on protective duties for all Buddha's after spending time trying to make the Buddhist's life as painful as possible. So in a way that demon reincarnating the monk in the story would have served his purpose of acting as a protector, and the fact that afterwards begins to meditate afterwards falls right in line with everything I've ever heard about demons in Buddhist practice.

--Hiro Shimada
(a Buddhist)

I've gotten a few e-mails from other Buddhists and a Hindu on The Devil and The Monk, but I think that this is what I wanted to hear. That is, a Catholic-born Gnostic-convert living in America gave a good interpretation of Buddhist ideas, both philosophical and mythic/cultural.

For people who might take offense or misinterpretation of the word "myth", I'm using the definition I learned from my instructor in my old "Fairytales and Folklore" class.

Myth: a story that may or may not be true but is culturally important to a people (I'm paraphrasing of course, I took that class like-- 6 or 7 years ago. I'm not gonna dig up that syllabus I kept from college).

So, if I refer to a "Christian Myth", I am not an angry atheist, I'm just stating that this old tale, that God only knows is historically accurate, is important to the Christian people and culture.

P.S. Heather Joseph-Whitham was a great teacher. If I could find a link to that one book she wrote about Klingon Fan Culture, I'd post it up (although there has been a steady decline in the Klingon population that seems to coincide with the depletion of the Ozone Layer). She's also made appearances on Mythbusters as a Folklorist and Urban Legend specialist.

Labels: feedback, my work, religion

I've added two new pages to God(tm) (c)2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental.

I finally get to draw some robots. Although, after the next scene, you won't see them for a while.

Labels: comics, God(tm), my work, robots, updates

I usually don't blog about the ins and out of my life unless I'm drunk and then I delete it. But things are gonna shake up personally for me very soon.

I got the call today. I got a really sweet day job starting next week. I'll let you know what it is at the appropriate time. Plus, I got a nice side gig which I'll also tell you about on the appropriate time.

The synchronicities are starting. I just had one tonight. Things are gonna start moving. I'll do my best to update my comics.

In fact, I just updated last night.

God(tm) (c)2XX8 *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. All rights reserved. God and all related characters, titles, names and documents are trademarks of *** ***** ****** ******* Incorporated. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions in this deity with those of any living or dead person or institutions is intended and any such similarity which may exist is purely coincidental. has two NEW PAGES. Plus, I added a joke to one page.

Okay. It's a full moon.

No wonder.

--onward!

Labels: God(tm), Life, my work, updates