Archive for the 'Graphic Novel' Category

Mixed Blood

Published
by
Cover Judge
on December 15, 2006
in Film, Graphic Novel and Writing
. 1 Comment

Excellent exclusive interview with Mel about Apocalypto. I think Mel understands the art of storytelling. Compelling action/conflict, humor and a point.

I am working on the graphic novel again. Took a break for a while. I forgot how much I love writing. Actually I dont know if it’s the writing I love. I see the images in my head. Thats what I love. The images in my head. And writing lets me share them with you or directing or poems or art. I just want to share them.

I almost don’t want to see Apocalypto because I know it will affect me creatively and there is this great desire in me to avoid mimicry. I am so worried about being original but want stay relevant at the same time.

I am redoing the beginning of the novel right now. Maybe I will share a piece with you. It starts at the beginning of time and the creation of the earth. The novel in a whole is turning out more dark and forboding than I thought it would. Not that it doesn’t have it’s fun moments but the overall story is a little heavier than I originally thought it up to be. The original idea was to create a modern day western that still had the sensibilities of something classic. I think the more I got into reading and writing about the Native American, specifically the Wintu* tribe, element of the story, it really changed the tone. In fact the story is much more centered around Native American culture than small western town culture now. But it’s all still a work in progress. Needless to say, I am really excited about it and am happy to be working on it again.

If you are wondering why the title of this post has nothing to do with the post itself and are saying to yourself,”He has so much whit, I wonder what the sarcastic play on words is that I am missing”. Don’t worry, your not obtuse. This is the working title of my graphic novel and by my, most of my readers understand that I mean the graphic novel written by me and drawn by the Fantastic (yep I capitalized it) Curt Merlo

*You can read a brief history on the Wintu here. It’s pretty sad. Basically the pre-contact population was around 14,000 (most likely more) and in 50 years their population was down under 500. Now they are an unrecognized tribe, while other made-up tribes are claiming land for Casinos to be built.

Merlo is a Wild Man

Published
by
Cover Judge
on November 21, 2006
in Art, Curt Merlo and Graphic Novel
. 0 Comments

Curt has some new work up and he is almost done with water polo, which means I will probably be blogging slightly less and working on the graphic novel much more.  This is good for me and for you. I have already begun thinking about (hopefully) out next novel together.  Not trying to get ahead of myself but it’s always good to have direction.  I’m thinking about adapting Out Of The Silent Planet, from the C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy.  If your creative, intelligent and spiritual AND you haven’t read it, you should.

Johnny Rotten

Published
by
Cover Judge
on August 14, 2006
in Art, Curt Merlo and Graphic Novel
. 0 Comments

Today I give you the first ever international release of the merlo sketches of Johnny Rotten. Rotten is one of the protagonists of the novel, as well as the leader of the much maligned group “the good ol’boys”. For more check out the native american and the lost boy. Any likness to my brother Sam is completely coincidental.

Johnny Rotten

New Lost Boy Sketch

Published
by
Cover Judge
on August 11, 2006
in Art, Curt Merlo and Graphic Novel
. 0 Comments

From Curt Merlo:

Lost Boy

The Lost Boy

Published
by
Cover Judge
on July 25, 2006
in Art, Curt Merlo and Graphic Novel
. 0 Comments

Exclusive sketches of the main character officially titled “The Lost Boy”, from Curt Merlo.

Not only is great to see his amazing art, but his process is very interesting. Curt isn’t creating these sketches just to post, I have seen his desk-sized sketch pad where he is working out all these ideas. It’s amazing, beautiful and exciting. Spread the word.

Writing Sample

Published
by
Cover Judge
on July 21, 2006
in Graphic Novel
. 2 Comments

I am going to do something that is scary for any creative-type to do. Since I am not creative, I am going to share unfinished, unpolished, and un…good work. As you may know I have been working on a graphic novel with Curt Merlo. I did some writing last night for one of the opening scenes. I am posting it here for you to read. I would love feedback, but at the same time remember that this is about one page of 200 and that its a first rough draft (now I’m done talking it down so when you read it, you can say “no its great” and I can get my reason for existance from your heavily lauded praises).

Without further ado:

EXT. VALLEY - DAY

A herd of cattle can be seen grazing in a large grass pasture. In the distance, jagged blue mountains pierce the sky. A close up of the cattle shows one cow eating right behind another one. The cow drops a huge load right in the spot the other cow was just eating. The cow slowly lifts his head looking upset and turns away. Another small group of cows is seen eating. A low buzzing sound is heard as a fly passes over a cow. The cow tries to swat the fly with its tail, but misses. The buzz slowly increases until it is full bore. Suddenly a swift moving object splits the slow, stupid cattle. Dusts flies up around the unknown rider. His body crouched, his head low, he rides like he is fighting the rotation of the earth itself. His poncho flies behind him like a cape. His face is covered with a bandana but his intense and deliberately focused eyes can be seen. The rider is known to those who don’t know him, which is almost everyone, as THE LOST BOY. Seeing some sinister looking silhouettes in the distance, he pulls a wheelie on his modified dirt bike and comes down accelerating. He then slowly pulls two saddle rifles of his back and aims them straight into the face of the camera and though it would seem impossible whizzes past even faster. A shot rings out and the back bike tire explodes. Reacting quickly the Lost Boy hits the brakes on the bike and just before crashing, jumps off. He lands on his feet like an olympic long jumper, facing a group of five men, who suspiciously look like they knew he was coming back. Meanwhile the group of men, known as “THE GOOD OLD BOYS” are spending a regular afternoon working on their 1967 Chevy C-10, before the rider approaches. The leader, JOHNNY ROTTEN, is working on the engine with the hood up. Another SHEP, is working under the car on his back. BILLY, sitting in the back nursing a beer and a cigarette, begins to slowly stand, reaching for his gun.

BILLY

Johnny? I think someone’s coming.

Johnny pokes his out from under the hood straining to focus on a figure in the distance. Shep, a long skinny farm boy, wearing overalls and a train conductors cap over shaggy straw-like hair, slides out from underneath the truck.

SHEP

What is that?

BILLY

I don’t know, but it’s moving quicker than two frogs on a banjo.

SHEP

(looking at Billy)

What?

JOHNNY

Well I’ll be… (interrupted)

A shot rings out from behind them. It startles Billy and he drops the beer. ROD, a medium build redhead with handsome looks and a cocky smile, walks up from behind the truck carrying a buffalo rifle.

ROD

Yee-hoo, I think I got me a big one.

BILLY

(sarcastically)

Look pop, that man shot himself that squirrel, rightthenthere, isn’t he so tuff?

ROD

(to Billy)

Your next dipshit.

The dust clears in front of them and the figure of the Lost Boy stands holding two Winchester “yellowboy” rifles. The good ol boys step away from their spots on the truck and step forward, lining up in front of the figure.

To be continued…I hope to bring you updates from time to time and always remember to check curtmerlo.blogspot.com.

Let’s Get Graphic

Published
by
Cover Judge
on July 18, 2006
in Art, Curt Merlo and Graphic Novel
. 0 Comments

So it’s official. If you have spent any time with me over the last few days you already know this, but I am working on a graphic novel with Curt Merlo. I will be writing the story and Curt will be illustrating (this would be obvious to you if you have ever visited electronicalifornia.

I will continue to give you updates here on this blog, also make sure check curtmerlo.blogspot.com, as I’m sure he will be posting some sketches.

A little backstory:

I have never actually been into comics that much. I had a couple superman episodes as a child but women in tight leather and men who can shoot lasers out of their eyes just don’t do it for me. I made the point to Curt last night that I think fantasy for fantasy’s sake is worthless. Peeking into other unknown worlds can sometimes gives us a better understanding of our own and be fun (and many comics have actually done that). But the graphic novel is a whole different invention all together. The first widely accepted graphic novel was a book of shorts stories around jewish life in new york city. That hardly has anything to do with destroying nazi’s with a rocket launcher for an arm. I’m not trying to take the high horse here and say all comics are lame and then say, but mine isn’t, though I do hope to transcend the comic norm. I would make the same criticism of film and then try and rise above that. I recently read Earthboy Jacobus by Doug TenNapel. Though it was a little sci-fi for my own taste, I absolutely loved it. The author mixes humor, action, and important issues while keeping it entertaining the whole time. Believe it or not, my wife was flipping through it the other night at the dinner table and began to read it. Though she had to ask me at times, why there was a giant flying whale on earth, she actually enjoyed it. I think this is the way for the graphic novel to transcend the group of 6 boys at the comic store I ran into yesterday flirting with the female clerk with ever romantic talk of teleportation powers.

As you can tell, I am very excited about this. We will see what happens, but Curt and I are both taking this very seriously and coming off our meeting last night we are gonna work very well together.

All this and more only at electronicalifornia*

*You could probably find all this somehwere else.