It always annoys me when a company doesn’t take responsibility for its actions. Now I know that an argument can be made against what I’m saying… but there is a principle involved here.

The story is as follows: I was at the local mall with my wife as she was buying new work clothes. On the way out we passed through SEARS… yes I am very specifically stating that it was the SEARS in the Puente Hills Mall… and my wife saw the Optical department and suggested that while we were there I should go ahead and look for new glasses. It had been a while since I had new glasses, probably about five years. I resisted as I’ve found glasses shopping to be a very long and arduous task that NEVER ends in my getting a pair of glasses I like. Seems the frame makers of the world have decided that glasses should be tiny and I’m not a small guy. But the wife insisted and every once in a while I let her win some.

I went over and looked through frames and as expected… I hated ALL of them. Knowing that I found a pair that weren’t horrible and the optometrist was available so next thing I know I’m being rushed into the side room to have my eyes examined. The woman was nice enough but the equipment was kind of on the discount side and most of the time I had to bend or stretch to make anything work. She did the obligatory “better like this or better like this…” and came up with my prescription. She had also mentioned the word “astigmatism” that has never come up before. I never got the “oh, that’s it there” moment and let her know that, but she was confident in her prescription and sent me back to the most annoying man I have come across in a very long time.

Dennis, the manager of the SEARS optical in the Puente Hills Mall proceeded to take a very long time to put in my order. Mainly because the man, who could easily be Gilbert Godfrey’s brother, spent a lot of time talking about himself. He asked what we did, Deb mentioned that she was starting work selling musical instruments and then for the next thirty minutes or more, Dennis told us about his days of being a guitar player in a band. Now if Dennis could have told these stories as he was entering my order, then it would be so bad… but Dennis couldn’t talk without his hands so he was constantly stopping to tell us more about himself… all in a very Gilbert Godfrey way.

What I feared would already be an arduous task was made far worse by the equipment and the annoying manager. But at least it was done… I had new glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses on the way.

After two weeks, having received no calls from SEARS Optical in the Puente Hills Mall, I made a trip up there on my own and found my glasses waiting for me. I had to wait my turn as there was only one employee working that day and I was the third customer in line. Once I got my turn, the woman working was obviously more concerned with something else other than her job. I told her the lenses didn’t seem right. She took the time to check the prescription versus the actual lenses and insisted they were correct. She did nothing to adjust the frames to my face or anything of the sort. Then in the middle of helping me, she started going off about how her side view mirror on her car had been stolen that morning. This of course delayed my ability to get away from this crazy place. When I told her again that the glasses still seemed wrong, like I had to magnifying lenses strapped to my face… she said to give it a few days to adjust to them. I’ve been wearing glasses since the sixth grade and I know about adjusting to a new prescription… this was just off. I took them and left.

I tried the sunglasses on the ride home and found it was okay-ish if I was looking straight forward but if I had to suddenly glance to the side the difference was distractingly different. I don’t mean looking outside of the lenses; I mean still viewing through the lenses. I got home and got out the latest Dan Brown novel and sat down to ride with the new glasses. This lasted about ten minutes before I had to take them off and throw down a handful of Advil as my head was pounding and my eyes were burning. This continued over the next two weeks as any time I used the new glasses, I ended up with a horrible headache and burning eyes. Multiple attempts to use the sunglasses never got me comfortable with them either. So I decided to take the glasses back.

I drove up on Monday morning, a little while after the optical department was open. There were no other customers so I got a woman’s attention immediately. I told her the situation and was informed that neither the optometrist nor Dennis was in. I told her that since the lenses had been checked against the prescription that the problem was with the optometrist’s exam and I didn’t have any confidence in the doctor nor her equipment and wanted a refund. I was told that the next step would be to have my eyes reexamined. I told her that I was not going to waste any more time and wanted a refund… and that their policy stated that if I wasn’t satisfied for any reason within 90 days I could get a full refund. I told her that I wanted the refund and I wanted it to include the cost of the exam. She told me that only Dennis had the ability to do a refund and he wouldn’t be in till the next day. I asked her to get the store manager, because he should be able to do it… that’s when I was told that SEARS Optical is not part of SEARS. I was not happy with the idea of wasting MORE of my time having to come back. I asked her for a number for their corporate office… which I was not given. But she did tell me that since I had used my SEARS card to purchase the glasses, she could take them and the receipt and have Dennis process it when he comes in the next day. I told her I wanted the exam refunded too… she said they don’t do that, but would have Dennis call me.

That leads me to today. I received a call from Dennis who tried to convince me to come in for a re-exam. I told him that I had already wasted far too much time and just wanted a refund. He then tried to explain that it’s their policy to do a re-exam if the lenses are wrong but match the prescription. I reminded Dennis that their policy was actually to refund no questions asked within 90 days. I told him I wanted the $50 for the eye exam back as well. He said they can’t do that, but they would be happy to re-exam. I asked him why the only resolution to this problem involves me wasting more of my time. He said that was the only thing he could do. I asked if it turned out that the exam was wrong and I get re-examined… would they then pay ME for my time? He said they can’t do that. I said well your optometrist made the mistake, why should I have to pay for that? He then informed me that the optometrist is not actually part of their company… who is not actually part of SEARS. At that point I asked for the number for their corporate office which I did not get… again.

End result here? I have no new glasses. My credit card is supposed to be reimbursed the glasses but not the exam. I’m out $50 plus a lot of time and SEARS Optical is an independent contract set up in SEARS but SEARS has not control over… and the optometrist that is immediately next to SEARS Optical is NOT part of SEARS Optical and they do not take responsibility for them. And it seems that the corporate phone number for SEARS Optical is a closely guarded secret.

AVOID SEARS OPTICAL, especially the one located in the SEARS in the Puente Hills Mall.

Comic creator Dan Wickline (1001 Arabian Nights: The Adventures of Sinbad, 30 Days of Night: Spreading the Disease) shifts gears to produce Three Little Ladies All In the Morgue: A Lucius Fogg Mystery. Occult specialist Fogg and his leg man Jimmy Doyle are called in by the police when three unrelated women are murdered in exactly the same fashion by three different killers. Is there a connection between the crimes and can Fogg find it in time to prevent more deaths? This short story crosses the dark corners of the horror genre with the style of a period piece murder mystery.

This week Grimm Fairy Tales #34 hit the stands and if you pick it up, I think you will be entertained for your money. But this particular book means a little more to me. I recently had my website, danwickline.com, re-designed by Victor Moreno and we included a “published works” section. This meant I had to go through and put up an image and description of each book I’ve had published. And by comparison to other people in the industry, I knew it wouldn’t take me long to do this. When I finished, I was curious and did something I hadn’t done before… I counted the books. Not variant covers or anything like that, just the actual stories that have seen print counting both comics and prose. I was surprised to find I was at 47. Then Dark Delicacies #1 came out followed by Savage #4… then this Wednesday, Grimm #34 made it an even 50.

Now I’m someone who always thinks I have done absolutely nothing in this industry and what little I have accomplished is like to disappear tomorrow. So to see a number like 50 really meant a lot to me.

Now here's hoping I can get to 100 a lot faster than I got to 50.

I can honestly say that I could not have predicted anything that would transpire in this calendar year. And as we turn the final page, I just want to take a moment and look back at it as a whole. Judge it on its merits.

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Work wise, the year saw the creation and release of the first 1,001 Arabian Nights story arc: Sinbad and the Eyes of Fire. It felt amazing to step away from horror and just write action/adventure. A chance to focus on giving the reader as much 'fun' as I could jam into twenty-two pages a month. It also saw a parade of artists both on covers and inside. Interiors went from Gus Vasquez to Paolo Pantalena to Tone Rodriguez to Ron Adrian to Eduardo Ferigato to Rod Periera; all of them very talented, but not how you want to start a series. The new year will see the release of the trade and going into our second story arc: Sinbad and the City of the Dead. Eduardo will be with us for the whole arc (right Eduardo?).

The final issue of Strange Cases hit the stands and it felt a bit melancholy for me. The project was so much fun to work on. David Hartman is phenomenal to collaborate with and I always love working with Steve Niles. But so much corporate stuff happened behind the scene that it too a Herculean effort just to reach issue 4. Would love to do more with this series…

More with Zenescope as well. For some reason Raven Gregory has become my personal advocate and getting me some work on Grimm Fairy Tales. The face that Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco like my work helps a lot too. Released so far are Three Blind Mice and Three Snake Leaves, but Puss N Boots and Dorian Gray will be coming a long very soon.

My other big project was Savage. First it was great working with Jim Valentino and Kris Simon over at Shadowline again. After the misfire with Unravel, I really wanted to do something else there and this project was the perfect fit. Steve and Jeff Frank were great to work with… but I really enjoyed working and getting to know Mike Mayhew; a super talented artist that I hope to work with again soon.

And another prose piece got done and I was able to play with The Avenger for Moonstone. I don't get many chances to write prose, so I jump at any chances that Joe Gentile throws my way. Hey Joe… what else you got?

While I shift from work to more personal things, it seems the perfect time to mention this little 'bob of a hurricane' that popped up in my life. I met her in Texas in 2007 officially, but it wasn't till she started appearing at my table in Phoenix, then LA that I realized the potential. So I hired Tyler Dranguet to be my assistant and it will go down as one of the smartest things I did all year. Even though she's miles away, she keeps me motivated and on schedule through a deluge of emails, text messages and IM's. She calls me on my bullshit, knows when I can do better and edits the hell out of my scripts. And somewhere along the way she became family. Now I don't know what I would do without her.

A second person who changed my life quite a bit was another person I had met in 2007. Joss Dupas is the rep for my good friend Tone Rodriguez and someone I joked around with a lot since I met her. But in 2008 we had the opportunity to really talk and I have to say that she is an amazing woman and a very dear friend. When I really needed to find a way to get my head straight, she was there to smack me.

As strange of a year that it has been for me, it had to be more so for my wife. This is the first year without her mom and Deb has been remarkable. After twenty years together she still surprises me. We've worked together to take the house she grew up in and make it our own. She is also the reason for another big change for me…

Music. A few years back I thought it would be cool to teach myself the bass guitar. So I went out and bought one and it sat and collected dust. Then in March of this year, Deb and I were having lunch and I commented about going over to the Sam Ash across the parking lot and seeing if there was a local instructor who teaches bass guitar. Figured it was time to blow 4 years worth of dust off and see if I could learn the damn thing. We went, I walked over and found the list of instructors, and lost my wife. I found her at the guitar wall looking at a blue Ibanez. Seems she had always wanted to learn the guitar… and the guy helping us also taught lessons. Now eight months later, I take two lessons a week, practice whenever I can and have a pretty cool collection of basses (added a new one today). Best walk across the parking lot of my life.

2008 also had its bad; the worst being a September morning going to pick up Tone for a trip to a con up north. I looked down for a moment then up too late to see a Nissan Ultima… I had never been in an accident before. I hope to never be in one again. You're not sure what to do, what to say. Was everyone okay? That seemed to be the only real concern. Thankfully everyone was. Only the vehicles were really damaged. My truck, The Behemoth, did exactly what I would hope it would do. It kept me safe. I got out with two scratches on my legs and a dry mouth from the dust on the airbag. I was even able to drive the thing home and to the repair shop. Frank and his boys at West Coast Autobody put The Behemoth back in pristine shape. (Frank told me he worked on Frank Miller's convertible back in the 70s.) So I hop behind the wheel of my truck and I almost forget about the accident… except when I'm driving along the 134 through Eagle Rock, I still get nervous there.

The only other bad of note in 2008 wasn't really bad… just odd. It happened in San Diego at a bar where Marat Mychaels was hosting an Image mixer during Comic-Con. It was a weird combination of things… lack of sleep, a couple drinks and a horror writer who can't handle hearing gross stories… and I blacked out on my barstool. When you come to and find a group of people looking at you with fear and dread… you realize that you might just matter to some folks in this world. I got checked out by the paramedics there and my doctor later and I'm fine. But to Marat, Eric J, Joss, Doc, Jerry and all at the bar… sorry for the scare.

Overall, I think the good of 2008 far outweighs the bad. And I find myself looking at 2009 as a chance to keep going. To do more of the things that are important to me: write more, play more music, shoot more photos, spend more time with friends and family. The most important thing I take out of 2008 is this: I'm insanely lucky to lead the life I do and I shouldn't take any of it or the amazing people in my life for granted.

And for the last time in 2008 – I return you to your life already in progress.

In some weird twist of fate, this Wednesday you can get more of me than even my wife would want to deal with.

3 new comics on the shelf at one time.

We start with from Image, the collaboration with Niles, Frank and Mayhew.... the third issue of SAVAGE with more Big Foot versus Werewolf action in it than you can shake... uhm... a big foot at.

Second, I return to Zenescopes Grimm Fairy Tales series with one of the most obscure tales yet: The Three Snake Leaves. And trust me, if you read Sinbad, you don't want to miss this one.

And finally, in the aformentioned Sinbad... we have the 6th and final chapter of Sinbad and the Eyes of Fire. Can Sinbad and his crew defeat the dreaded Kabrit Amud and retrieve the Sunfury Amulet? If you think I'm going to tell you, buzzzzzzzz... not happening. Buy the book.

So run.. don't walk.. to your local shops on Wednesday and look for the VERY special Holiday covers on both Grimm and Sinbad... you might have to pry them out of your retailers hands.

Remember.. comics make a great stocking stuffer.

November was a down month for me. Didn't get a lot of writing done. But I did a crap load in September and October so a down month was fine. Spent a chunk of the time on a road trip to Dallas.

So now we are into December and I'm trying to get back into the work groove. Did some editorial changes to two scripts today. Caught up on some reading (Brubaker's Captain America and some old Jack Kirby Demon stories) and then dug out one of my favorite DVD's, Network.

If you haven't seen Network, its is one of the most amazing films you will ever see. The acting is good, but the writing is prophetic in nature. So much of what we see in the movie, shown to be absurd at the time, is now common place over 30 years later. They were telling us about sensationalism and the dumbing down of America before the terms even existed.

Now tonight, after I type this, I'm going to read the new Josh Dysart Unknown Soldier comics. I have issue 1 and 2 that I have been saving to where I can sit down and enjoy them without distraction.

Tomorrow I will either try to take over the world... or buy some new carpet for the bedroom.