Tag Archives: Books

Getting the Point

1
May 14, 2012
by

So, today the preorders for Schlock Mercenary: The Sharp End of the Stick are up. I’ve reviewed Howard Tayler’s masterwork of online serialized science-fiction before (wow, I’ve tried to bring this blog back from the dead a lot of times since then), but I’ll do it again because wow, it’s gone from my favourite webcomic to still my favourite webcomic but with a lot of strong competition for best science-fiction comic out there (also, there’s a contest on). There is one, count ‘em one, comic that has me whipping out the iPhone at update time, and that’s Schlock (pre-iPhone, that was “trying to find a way to get away from what I’m doing and find a PC, so hey, technology). There’s also one, count ‘em one, comic out there that has named a character after me (my online handle, anyways), but I’m not biased by that, no siree.

So, why is it my favourite? I’ll put my reasons in list form, because I hear the internet likes list form:

  1. SOLID writing. Howard Tayler knows a thing or two about writing, and it shows, especially in the more recent books. Writing a punchline-a-day comic strip that also works as a serious (but funny) story over the course of years? Brilliant.
  2. Art. Want to see how someone learns to draw and refine their style? Just hop in the archives and jump ahead years at a tim
  3. e, and watch it go. Gives a hack like me hope that, with daily practice for many many years (as opposed to daily avoidance for many many years), I might just learn to not suck. Hiring professional colourist Travis Walton (pretty sure he’s not the UFO guy that comes up when you Google him) makes the recent stretch a real visual treat as well.
  4. Consistency. The comic has been up daily for coming on twelve years now, on-time. No guest artist weeks, no “stick guy” weeks, no “here’s a sketch instead of a comic” days, it’s the strip, on time, no ifs-ands-or-buts about it. It’s been late once or twice, but that took an explosion taking down the data centre to do it (and the strips were available elsewhere, which is impressive customer service to get for something that’s delivered free of charge.
  5. BOOM, baby, BOOM.

Yeah, what more can I say? Give me shiny pictures, a fantastic story with characters I care about, and sprinkle explosions and fancy tech to taste, and I can’t resist. Sharp End of the Stick is Tayler really stretching his legs, and is where I learned in media res, which is a really fun phrase to pull out at parties (NOTE: I don’t get invited to parties very much, probably because I try to show off with Latin phrases). It’s free online, but the print version will have exclusive margin art, added footnotes, and a bonus story that, if the last seven books are any indicator, will be very much worth your while to read.

: Entertainment
: ,

Superfogeys 2011

0
March 22, 2011
by
Superfogeys 2011

Superfogeys 2011

Brock Heasley has had some big announcements lately! First, he’s brought in Marc Lapierre to take over art duties on his amazing superhuman story The Superfogeys. Second, he’s increasing the update frequency to thrice a week from twice a week (which is definitely welcome with quality stories like this). Superfogeys is what I’d hoped Soon I Will Be Invincible would be–heroes as real people, with real problems, living in a (somewhat) realistic world. If you like superheroes, you should be reading Superfogeys, and if you don’t like superheroes, read it anyways, because it’s not just a superhero story. And hey, he’s got a book, too! Read it!

: Entertainment
: , ,

Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between

2
October 17, 2006
by

Well, it’s time. The long awaited second book in the Schlock Mercenary saga is available for preorder. For the first 24 hours (until 8:00 Mountain Time tomorrow morning), you have the amazing opportunity to pay a little extra ($10USD) to get a very groovy ink doodle on the inside of your book. People who just pay the $15USD for the book (very reasonable, considering that it’s full colour on shiny paper) will still get a signature. You know you want it. Buy it now. (And then wait patiently for the books to ship in November. This is a preorder, after all.) (more…)

: Entertainment, Funny Stuff
: ,

I Feel Like Rambling A Little

0
July 13, 2006
by

I am sooo tired lately. I think it’s because I don’t sleep as much as may be recommended.

I’ve got a whole bunch of books to read. I’ve been unable to resist buying new Discworld books (and reading them in random order), so I’ve got about nine sitting on a table waiting to be read (except Sourcery, which is in progress, beginning last night). I’m determined to read them all, but it is time consuming. It’s left my poor, poor copy of Rurouni Kenshin 27 sitting lonely in that silly plastic baggy that the comic shop insists on putting all their books in.

Part of the reason I’ve been progressing so slowly through my books (other than watching Ranma 1/2 with my girl) is that I’ve been puttering around with the various scripts on the site. The links page script is pretty much as complete as it’s going to get for a while (source code possibly forthcoming, on the off chance that people want to see that sort of thing). The Gunze page, well, it’s a . The script searches fine, it just needs an interface and I would like to slap together a method that can search the (currently a mix of kana and kanji) Japanese names with a romaji search string. (I know that there’s probably a module out there that does this, but that wouldn’t be fun, would it?)

And that’s my excuse for not updating as often as I should.

: Entertainment, Hobby
: ,

Geez, I haven’t updated in so long

0
May 12, 2006
by

But that’s because I’ve been busy with my models. I won’t get into the details of how the model has been going here, because that’s what the model page is for.

My knack for getting into comics that end or go on hiatus continues – Orneryboy, by the very talented Michael Lalonde may be facing a hiatus soon. I’ll sure as hell miss it, but I’d rather see him take a break and find the joy in it again (or not, and go on to do something he enjoys) than see him go crazy and slam the door on it forever. Take care, sir!

For the curious, my “knack” for getting into comics that go on hiatus refers to my ongoing collections of graphic novels – specifically, Rurouni Kenshin (only two volumes to go before it’s over), Evangelion (volume 10 may come out this year, coinciding with ten years of Evangelion manga), and Excel Saga (finally caught up with the Japanese releases, which are around 8 months apart). I think I may be a bad luck charm or something.

Also, I’m pumped about the impending arrival of my Schlock book. The esteemed Mr. Tayler says that the books are coming soon. I, for one, can’t wait (but I will). Modelling will have to keep my geekiness fix sated until then. Oh well!

: Entertainment, Hobby
: , ,

Discworld

0
April 7, 2006
by

Not that anyone cares what I read (or, rather, not that anyone reads what I write), but lately I’ve been hooked on the Discworld books. I had a gift card, so I picked up Thief of Time as a lark. I read it, and went out at the first opportunity and bought Equal Rites, Small Gods, Reaper Man, and Night Watch. I just wish they were longer books, I can’t put them down and wind up plowing through them in a couple of days. With a style like Mr. Pratchett’s, of course, the re-read value will still be there. (more…)

: Entertainment, Funny Stuff
:

Woot!

0
April 4, 2006
by

I preordered the Schlock book. Signed and sketched, even. It’ll be sweet. I can’t wait to see what he draws. I may still have to track you down at a convention, Mr. Tayler. If my reaction to Schlock on the web is any indication, I may become hooked on Schlock on paper.
Now I just need to wait for the preorders on Book 2. My VISA is itching, Howard.

(Yes, I’m addicted. Everyone has their vice. I don’t smoke or drink, so I’ve gotta have my Schlock.)

Postscript April 07: The “track you down at a convention” line meant “track you down at a convention, and commission a piece of artwork.” On reread, the original probably sounded a little creepy.

: Entertainment, Funny Stuff
: