Rachel Kadushin on video of Catch  Da Craze pod cast of WBAI FM late night interview with Sam Vera, Jonathan Syphax and hosts Ken Gale and Mercy Van Vlack. I didn't know there would be video – so no make-up for me (Rachel).

http://catchdacraze.com/blog/?p=114

Please check it out and come back here to leave comments!

During my adventures for the past few years, I've been going to the East Coast Black Age of Comics convention where I've been able to meet documentary film producer M. Asli Dukan and see some of her works in progress.

Here is some information about the documentary:

Invisible Universe: a history of blackness in speculative fiction explores the relationship between the Black body and popular fantasy, horror and science fiction literature and film and the alternative perspectives produced by creators of color. This documentary features interviews with major writers, scholars, artists and filmmakers and explores comics, television, film and literature by deconstructing stereotyped images of Black people in the genres. The Invisible Universe documentary ultimately reveals how Black creators have been consciously creating their own universe.

I've got a really short trailer up on my main myspace page (scroll down), and there's a website for the documentary –
http://www.invisibleuniversedoc.com/ with user controllable slide shows and a 14 minute quicktime trailer.

Invisible Universe is classified as part of an arts education foundation, so if you donate you could both get a tax credit and a screen credit.

This could possibly include a producer or executive producer credit.

Let me know if you want more info about donating/getting a credit on the project. I was a host committee member for an event connected to the project, and am still happy to faciliate additions to the post-production and clearences budget.

-Rachel K.

goD the dyslexic Dog - Bliss On Tap Publishing ISBN 0-9763768

Brief: 

The argument of drug enhanced merriment (bliss the divine inspiration for alcohol but not defined as specifically alcohol) is argued within the one being Dionysius who exists on earth without his opposite Apollo (or Athena or Nike for that  matter)…

Extended:

Dionysius argues within himself over the benefits of drug enhanced merriment. Bliss, the divine inspiration of alcohol and perhaps also recreational drugs is his only creation. He exists on earth without his opposite, Apollo. No mental, creative force of life to balance his earthy and shadowy nature. Dionysius or Bacchus is also the trickster/Loki character in this story, having tricked the other gods into being locked into heaven. He's also the hanged man of the tarot deck, perpetually in indecision and self-loathing.

An old rambling poet telling the tale of the universe could be actually the force of creation of the universe walking the earth as a poet… or just a poet with the story with the point of view of the creator. This man tells a woman, Pandora, that his dyslexic dog preceded the idea of what humans called the gods. In fact these gods may well have been called into creation by man, and then given power over them.

We see woman as caregiver, and piss-ass-poor nurturer, a simple creature who may be good, or may just kinda be there some of the time. Mainly male gods and the pre-sexual young Nez (a dyslexic boy who then must be Zen).

We see modern paganism in the California area portrayed as an extension of male drug enhanced merriment, and not very sincere nor calling any gods or goddesses into existence.

After one graphic novel/collected edition and the story still continuing, I'm uncertain as to whether the power of dyslexic inversion given to doG may create an equalitarian world or a reality where Hera, the shrew,  punishes man by being a sexual and selfish creature.

The non-sexual parts of the story, if you disregard gender, create a powerful theme about individuality and the will of the group. You can still have individual expression if you ever bow to the will of the group, but it can be hard to find, develop and utilize.

The books were originally published in black and white with no shading, the color is dark for this dark story with only male gods, the heroic Thor requesting that a god of science not transform him into something he fears, yet being unable to stop his involuntary transformation.

Surrealist elements in the storytelling and art, help the reader take more than one meaning from the thematic arguments presented. Science fiction and fantasy allow the female issue to be skirted and women disregarded as only marginal to civilization and the protagonists… but I can't tell if this is connected to the theme that may emerge in later issues or just the ambivalence of the Phillipson father and son team that wrote the story.

goD the dyslexic Dog - Bliss On Tap Publishing ISBN 0-9763768

My favorite two closing remarks at the end of  the sixth annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (paraphrased since I didn't record it):

Dr. Bill Foster: When I go to comic book conventions and tell people about ECBACC, the question I here most is... 'but I'm not black can I still go... is it appropriate for me to attend?' My answer is, 'We come to your conventions.'

Rachel's blog remark: If you think about it, most American comics -- the best selling ones and the ones that  have been around for the longest time feature white leads. So if you run or attend just about any comic book convention, even if you're not caucasion, you are essentially having a "white" or "non-black" comic book convention.

Jerry Craft: I remember the first East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention [this one was the sixth annual one]. There were six of us there and three people would go up and be panelists, while the other three would be in the audience and ask questions; and then we would switch [places].

Rachel's blog remark: I remember the first ECBACC I went to was the third one. Ken Gale and Mercy Van Vlack had been to the second one and they helped me get to the convention. The convention consisted of a book fair section and a lecture/classroom section. And yes, the panelists did rotate being on a panel and being in the audience. The book fair section was nearly deserted while these two or three symposium presentations were going on.

I will try to blog some more about what was going on during the convention and Glyph awards ceremonies after I get caught up.

T.E. Pouncey, "Some call me Tim" on my friends page, had a new review article posted on the topic of the first two issues of Heroes In Birmingham at the Geek January. Thank you Tim and Geek Zine for taking the time to think about my comic books.

The Geek Zine is no more, but some of their then minon geeks (now putting mastery in their own hands) imported the review, comments,  and added a picture(cover of issue #1).

You can now check it out (and leave a comment)here (in a new window).

Or copy and paste this url:

http://geeksofdoom.com/2007/01/17/comic-review-heroes-in-birmingham

I'm glad to report  that I'm working with the gang at American Mule Entertainment on getting some advertising love for the Public Enemy Comic Book.

A couple of years ago, I did a lot of research on advertising sales, including getting in touch with some major companies and their advertising placement reps. Since then, I have made even more contacts. Public Enemy's comic book series is allowing me to represent them in getting them some advertisements and classified ads for their upcoming issues.

The main thing you need to know is that even though their largest demographic of readers are single men, 18 to 34 who earn 50K plus a year, Public Enemy's comic does not publish swear words or adult graphics.

Young kids know what those images and words are, and the fictionalized adventures of the band -- overall reading level and violence appropriate for about 12 and up -- are about truth, justice and freedom... and of course fun!

There are two great on-line articles about what the stories are that I can give you links to right now...

One in Wizard  -- and one in CBR. These links should open in new windows.

I posted the myspace, a place for comics interview from the NY Comic-Con in my profile, and here's a link to a great video-mag piece from last year's San Diego Con International.

More information, as I can release it. You can e-mail me about advertising and classifieds rates, due dates, etc. at RachelK@AmericanMule.com.

There are some great rates for indy publishers and record lables, conventions, concerts and start-ups, and fair low prices for small business and larger corporations.

-Rachel

Reginald Hudlin

(Black Panther comic book writer, directed first episode of Everybody Hates Chris, Richard Pryor: The Funniest Man Dead or Alive  and others)

and

Denys Cowan

(Milestone, created the art/concept for M.A.N.T.I.S, Directed and Produced Static Shock, drew The Question, Powerman and Iron Fist, and so many more)

presented glimpses of upcominig animation shorts that will appear placed among some of the music and other programming, and also starting soon on the BET website.

These included a variety of styles and tones -- using music and stories to entertain and educate. Most fun - "Read A Book" an animated short based on the song. They said they plan on running the "dirty" version on their website BET.com -- which currently does not yet  have an animation section or anything that comes up when I searched the word animation. (Otherwise I would have given you all a link.) 

Then in February 2008, a series premier of  "Hannibal" -- longer, historical material starring the voice of Vin Diesel. I asked from the audience -- and Hudlin answerd, yes only this series will be premiering during the shortest month of the year -- (to presumably help with the publicity effort) -- and other  materials will be premiering all year on BET and BET.com

Most interesting peek at the long form was a distopian future, only slightly exagerating some of today's real problems where the government outlaws free expression -- if that free expression represents American Black Culture (and yes. the capital letters are warranted from what I saw.)  I don't recall the title of this series (it seemed like it might be a longer piece like a half-hour or a series), and it is meant to insight passion and deep thought. I found it less entertaining than the funny stuff, but it had merit as science fiction to make you think.

For the animation fan -- the website may end up being the best choice for finding the good stuff -- but I liked the subversive idea of presenting animation as part of the total BET entertainment package. Hudlin and Cowan also plan to look at proposals for short animation pieces that they think will fit their audiences from new talent. No proceedure seems to be set up for this -- so you may still need an agent, entertainment attny or know someone who is already doing animation for them.

I caution young writers and animatiors to both register their works on-line for copyright (you can copyright writing and drawings together), and put a draft of their proposal into a packet for the WGA east or west.

The good news is that both have spent time in comics and you might be able to download a release form (like at Marvel) some time in the near future.... because these guys seem to know what they are doing.

Oh, and I almost didn't attend this panel, but enjoyed it.

I unfortunetely missed "The Black Panel NYC"  -- but I did catch the one in San Diego, and many of the same guests attended.

Part of becoming part of the comic book creator community is buying new books from indepdendents, or when you have your own books available, making a trade.

Kind enough to trade comics with me at the NY Comic-Con was Jimmy Palmiotti -- yes that's really him on my Myspace friends list...
and this was before I attended a very enjoyable panel he was a part of for Fox Atomic Comics.
Jimmy is highly placed enough with connections that I would have given him my comics -- in the hopes that he'd either read them, give them to someone else to read, or at some point remember that I had done some notable work (I included a good review that I got from another myspace friend - "Some Call Me Tim").

Also, Jimmy had previously responded to a message that I sent him, a very specific question about one of his projects... and I heard from Talent Caldwell (now working on at least one project for Virgin Comics -- and another myspace friend I got to meet  in person at the NY Comic Con) that Jimmy, in general tries to be generous with his time and connections.

I didn't have a table this year, but I did have  a professional memebership provided to me from the convention, as a thanks for reserving for a table and getting bumped (and I think also because my comics got minor distribution). It turned out well for me.

Anyhow, I didn't take up much of his time, and he was kind enough to hand me Jonah Hex #16 - in trade (now that was an intense story!).

I did end up buying a comic book from Jamal Igle's table (since he had already bought my comics the last time I did have a table and something new out).

Indy creator trades I made were with Shaun Noel of "City of Walls" and Rashida Lewis  of  "Sand Storm".

Going to comic book and science fiction conventions can be like visiting a miniature, traveling society. Some of you know that I did not get to go to the Saturday events of the Big Apple Con, but I was there on Friday. One of the first things I did is actually buy something -- which can be a rarity for me these days.

I enthusiastically purchased a very reasonably priced photo-still of James Brown and Fred Williamson -- signed by Fred "The Hammer" Williamson. And no, I'm not going to scan and post it. I am going to send it to my fiancée, Henry; as he is the one who turned me on to Fred's fun and dynamic acting style -- older features we watched together included "Our Man Bolt" and "The Long Hard Ride."

So as I enthused on Fred Williamson to the booth owner, Tim Beal, he told me that the reason he had the signed stills was that he had hosted Fred's appearance at an event a while back. We talked some more -- and he's going to send Fred my comic books and DVD as a means of introduction to Fred -- just in case I have the opportunity to cast him in a production or have Ken Gale interview him in the future. I said something secret, too, that got Tim's attention. I'll let you know more about that particular project as it develops (and becomes less secret).

FYI, Tim doesn't think that either of the two Fred Williamson profiles that I have on my friends list are actually Fred. But I suppose if someone is that big of a Fred fan, its okay. And maybe one of them really is Fred. You never know...

... and at least I know Ken Foree is really Ken Foree. Henry and I got to meet him at San Diego Con '06.