I just reviewed some of the images from the beginning of Schlock Mercenary: The Blackness Between. Again, we’re doing “Sunday” style coloring on all images in the book, rather than just on Sundays. I had to finish the coloring on about 25 images, and now that it’s done all I need to do is finish up the bonus story.

(And the cover. And the margin materials, including re-scanning old sketches, throwing in some new ones, and writing new footnotes.)
(All before September 15th, if at all possible.)

Anyway, in reviewing the work I’ve done so far I got sucked into reading the beginning of the book. It’s going to be a darn good book. I wrote it, yet somehow I managed to make myself laugh. It’s probably going to be about 20 pages longer than the first one, with more action and (pending me finishing it) a bigger, more violent bonus story. I’m excited.

–Howard

I don’t have an Introduction lined up for the next Schlock book.

I know a dozen or so people who would be willing and able to write one.

This begs the question… are there MORE people, willing, able, and (he asks selfishly) famous who I could be hitting up?

My only requirements for famous intro-writers are that they 1) must read the strip, and 2) must be able to write a nice introduction sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Suggestions?

(Note: I haven’t actually asked anybody yet. Mike, Ryk, Eric, and Jay… you’re all on the short list, but I haven’t tapped anybody yet.)

(And now it occurs to me… Jay Maynard, Tron-guy and Xinchub cosplayer might write the PERFECT introduction for the book, provided we could include a picture or two.)

Cool meme, via kinkyturtle. The map, complete with a color-key, is behind the cut. The Cut

My friend Jason invited me out to lunch, and we ate at the Novell cafeteria. It may sound cheap and cheesy, but the freshly-grilled, hand-made-today patty on my burger was delicious. Seriously, it’s one of the best burgers I’ve had.

After lunch we wandered the halls in Building H for a little bit, and I handed out some damaged copies of Schlock Mercenary: Under New Management. These were copies with bent bindings, crimped corners, or gobbets of glue stuck to them. Each case of 90 books has two or three that are like this, and when I catch ’em I make sure to toss ’em into the damaged book box.

One of the books went to my friend Ted Haeger, who was the inspiration for Reverend Theo Fobius. Ted has since changed his hairstyle, and I haven’t seen him in wraparound glasses in forever, but he’s just as irreverent as I remember. The book totally derailed his day… especially the fact that the Reverend was on the back cover. Yes, Ted knew I was modeling a character after him. It’s one of the only cases, perhaps THE only case, where I’ve been so blatant.

Anyway, the walkabout was fun. My friends appear to be doing well, and that makes me happy.

Granted, it doesn’t make me as happy as “Howard doesn’t have to work for Novell anymore” does, but I’m open-minded enough to be happy for them AND happy for me.

–Howard