Sorry I've been away

Not really much to right...let's see...

1) Got a contract with Arcana Comics to publish Sterling, my first superhero creation. Being drawn by the amazing JC Grande (who did my friend, Jamie Gambell's Omnitarium...definitely worth a pick-up). The whole thing's written, just waiting for the art. Expecting to be out late this year or early 2011.

2) Writing Sterling volume 2 now for Script Frenzy. Making good progress. I should treat every month as Script Frenzy...about halfway through first chapter.

3) Still unemployed, but things are kind of shaping up.

4) Got a second project in the works, with an awesome artist attached. First issue written, but a bit on hold for the moment, for script frenzy...and brainstorming to write a script for ABC Writer Fellowship...but odds on will get back to it this week or the next. It's all in my skull, you know...and has to escape.

OK, maybe that was some news...

Some music to pay attention to: EvelynEvelyn's CD is a masterpiece. Worth the price of admission.

Little Poetry or some shit.

This came to me on the drive over to work. Had to get it out of my head before it consumed me. Might be finshed, might not...but most likely.

The Funeral

Her heart smolders
Like the tip of her cigarette
In anger about never knowing
The man who brought her
Into this world.

Now outside with all
These strangers
Celebrating his life
Her curiosity comes
A little too late.

Thirty years cast out
For reasons forgotten
The man in the box
Never forgot the
Sunshine in his grey life.

His body finally followed
His heart which died
Those thirty years ago
When all his days
Turned from bright sunshine
To dreary grey.

Finished page

Here is a page all finished [well, 95% finished - got some touchups to do], opinions? I did the greys/tones

The Grand Machine - Rough Pages PT. 2

Sorry about the delay, holidays are hell and all that...with out further ado...artwork by Claudio Avella and words by me.

The Grand Machine - Rough Pages PT.1

Ok folks, Decided to go ahead and start posting this and get people's views and opinions. PLEASE comment, good or ill. This is the rough cut, and edits and inks are still in the future. Here are the first five pages of The Grand Machine, written & lettered by me and drawn by the amazing Claudio Avella (seriously, if you can throw this guy some work, shoot me an email at jagorfain@gmail.com and I'll pass the word along.). I'm also available for hire too...Without further ado...

Avatar: My Take On It.

Howdy folks, just came back from Avatar and wanted to give you all a bit of a review of it. Not that if I tell you it's complete shit (which it isn't), you are not going to see it. Face it, you are going to see this movie. Accept it and move on. If you can see it in IMAX 3D, do so - - it's worth the extra bucks.

Anyhow, the reason why this movie works so well is on two fronts. One, the obvious one, the special effects are spectacular. The Nav'i and everything else on Pandora (not the most original name...) break through the Uncanny Valley (that's where CGI looks so close to real-life, but just too perfect where it creeps people out) and comes out on the other side, looking great. They're aliens, and look alien..but real enough to be believable. Even the hair-braid tentacle link bits. It just looks dead on and real. Not simulated real, REAL. It was so good, it didn't detract from the story one bit.

The other bit is the story. It's simple and straightforward. We've seen this story before when it was called Dances With Wolves. It's pretty much dead on copy with a sci-fi gloss over. Hero goes to remote world (outpost), forced to deal with indigenous people, falls in love with people and girl, soldiers come back looking for Hero...yadda yadda yadda. But it's ok. It works. There are no overly convoluted plot holes or twists and everything kind ends up happy in the end. What happens after the end, well...

Overall, this movie is beautiful and definitely worth the watch. Expect groundbreaking effects, not groundbreaking storytelling.

Happy Channukah!

And...here's my recipe for Potato Latkes!

Yields 12 Pancakes

2# Potatoes, peeled and grated

2 Eggs

6oz Finely Chopped Onion

2oz Flour

1TBL Baking Powder

1TSP Nutmeg

S&P to taste

Oil for frying

1. Combine potatoes, eggs, onions, baking powder and flour. Season with nutmeg, S&P. Mix well

2. Heat oil, add mixture shaped in proper pancake shape. Pan fry til golden.

That's it!

Finally! Some progress!

Hello...not sure you are reading this, considering I rarely update this thing, but what the hey. I just wanted to blog that I am making some slow, but steady progress in my quest to do something that I enjoy and get paid for it. I just made some logos for Jamie Gambell's upcoming book "Omnitarium" and will be (hopefully, if everything goes right) lettering some pages for him as well.

I am also writing like a fiend, and really hope I'll get that big break soon. It's close, I just know it.

Mood: Hungry

(oh, if you haven't seen Zombieland yet, you are definitely missing out on a treat! Best zom-com since Shaun of the Dead!)

Again, it's been ages!

Unemployment, is the ultimate curse my friends. First you think, "Oh, it's a like a vacation!" but you are mistaken. Once the thrill of sleeping til noon wears off and you begin to wonder where your next meal is coming from, it turns into endless boring days of drudgery of job searching, and keeping yourself busy. Then the days all start to bleed together in one continuous, depressing mass. Being a burden to your friends and family, the isolation because you can't afford to go out...the toll on one's sanity and psyche are devastating. Somehow, I have managed to keep on the right side of the dirt.

I have been trying to keep myself busy by writing. Soon after I started, I felt this is what I want to do with my life. I have re-invented myself! I felt pretty good and confident that I can make this happen...but no one flip around and becomes a paid writer overnight. So, I beg, cajole and borrow til I can make it happen. I think I might be close to true success. I have a story being published in the January issue of Dead Future (#4, if you are keeping track), and done some lettering for the first issue (lettering seems to be something I can do easily with my Graphic Design background). But everything so far has been volunteer basis, considering I have no published experience. I hope that these two things will be the start of good works progressing.

Sorry for the depressing post. Life is a bit boring for me these days.

Ok, it's been a while...

Reading Amanda Palmer's blog has got me wanting to jot a bit down on what's going on in my life...Twitter has kinda taken over my blogging...and since my blogging has been a bit almost dead in the first place, well , you can figure it out.

Anyways. Been writing a bit and hunting for work. Also playing some warcraft and trying to think up a business plan for my personal design biz...and pissing (fairly important..well, important to me) people off. Same as it ever was.

Things i've read/seen etc.

New Avengers: Good shit. Pick this up, the current "search for the new Sorcerer Supreme storyline, is solid work. All awesome. In fact, "Dark Reign" is just Marvel-speak for "this is awesome, buy it."

Power Girl: I admit it, I am not a big DC guy, but I gotta go with Palmiotti and Connor on this one. First issue is pretty tight and humorous ("Please stop playing with my globes" had me laughing). If the story can be as tight as i hope it could be, not the confusing mess that the rest of DC is to me at the moment.

The Hangover: yet another hilarious movie..and Zach Galifinakas as a bonus.

Progress! Slow but steady wins the race.

Been couple busy weeks. It's really hard to juggle watching the sister's kids, work, try learn a new program and start up freelancing graphic design (hint, hint to all you half dozen readers), and write up comic book or two. One of the things that keeps me going is visible progress. I'm not really talking about instant gratification, or maybe I am, but seeing the pages stack up is a good sight to see.

Attended FX last weekend; and when I wasn't spewing out 100% pure stupid in front of very attractive and very nice actresses of one of my favorite shows, I was chatting it up with comic pro's and attending panels. Everything I heard and asked was answered how I thought it should go, and it felt good that I was on the right track.

It's a slow hard road to work up towards (unless you are a TV writer or somehow already famous), but I see my progress and I makes me confident and enboldens me to think that this CAN happen.

Anywho. Finished the first issue of Sterling, my second take of it; and it's definitely a ka-jillion times better than the first one. Also, a project I thought was dead came back to life and got a sample page in. Other than some minor quibbles, it looks awesome. See if you can pick em out!

Business Card - Take Two

After the Goofy Glue incident, I decided to remake my business cards. Before printing, i would like some thoughts from you guys! what do you think?

front

back

so, what do you think?

I've been busy!

Been quite busy for the past couple weeks. Between parents up here, my job, writing my comic, trying to learn Dreamweaver, get brakes and tires for the car and trying to relax, i've been quite the busy beaver. Plus there is a personal issue that I don't quite feel like disclosing at the moment that has completely shook me up.

It's funny. At the moment, I at a fairly good point with everything. Slowly understanding Dreamweaver, comic is just about half done (expect to finish it this week), job is busy but insane...i decide to take a bit of a break, and now i am super bored, ROFL. But deep down, i know if i keep pushing myself to do these things, if i push too hard i will burn out, so i need to pace myself a bit.

Maybe a nap...while i have this place to myself.

You can't make everyone happy.

When everyone is clamoring at you to get stuff done, somebody's gonna be pissed. I guess I just need to roll with it.

Comic should be done tomorrow (first draft anyways)...got the ever amazing Whitney Cogar to do the art. I just hope she remembers me when she becomes the next Jack Kirby.

Got a couple ads to do for Molly. Piece of cake and I love working with her, so it's not really work.

Want to revise Sterling up a bit. I think I just need to twist it a bit and that will make it a hit.

Got the second issue of Arcanos to finish, but not sure what the deal is with the first, so will probably put it on hold for now.

Would like to go play some WoW or WoW TCG tomorrow; but well prepared to leave it wayside to get work done.

I am almost ready. Almost ready.

Progress!

over the past week, I got the general plot of my zombie story done, 5 pages of script drafted and a fresh magazine ad for Dr. Sketchy done! I just hope they like it.

Woot! Big Break!

Got tapped to write a short comic for an anthology! Will update as time goes on. Not sure if I can leak it. Not to mention find an artist...

Woops!

the proper link to Boom! is www.boom-studios.com - - i guess i shoulda checked the links, eh?

Mega-mega-megacon!

Just got back an hour or so ago from Orlando, from my trip to Megacon. Had a blast. Met LOTS of people in the comic book biz, might prove fruitful down the line, but who knows, eh? Was a complete near-madhouse. It makes me hopeful for my career in this business.

some people i met (tossing with links, because that's how I roll):

Tamara Gray

Chandra Free

The Spork!

Whitney Cogar

Mark Waid

Brandon Peterson

and i am sure there are others i am forgetting. I have still to go through my bag. Bought the first Scott Pilgrim trade (absolutely amazing and cool...must get hands on more) and the first Doktor Sleepless trade (completely insane and stuff. worth every penny.)

Going to be cooking some Beef Stew tomorrow for dinner, slow cooker style. Boring recipe, but tasty results. A year of culinary school has got to be useful for something...

Now off to sleep...though yappy dogs upstairs might make this more difficult than it seems.

Motivation: Check. Energy: er...

Trying to finish up Comic issue #2. But, keeping at is kinda rough. Without it being in print yet (understandably so, as the publisher wants 2 in the can before pumping it out), but trying to get time to plug away is rough with the internet, Warcraft, niece and nephew, and other things bouncing about and stuff. If I was actually drawing a paycheck from this, perhaps things would be different.

In other news, picked up some comics today...

New Avengers 50: Hoo boy. A bit of false advertising, but still packs quite a punch. I am fully confident that Dark Reign could be one of the best status quo shakeups ever so far (except for maybe Crisis on Infinite Earths, but that's a whole different class). Bendis can sure write these characters well, I am on the edge of my seat to find out where this goes.

Mighty Avengers #22: Normally, I love Dan Slott. But something seems off with this issue. doesn't quite seem to have it's voice quite yet. But I have a feeling like a good TV series, this needs a few issues to get it's stride going.

Avengers: The Initiative #22 (hmm..a trend?): One big fight scene for the most part. Everyone is in character and a good solid issue and tying up some long long threads. I usually love Ramos' art, but some parts of it are kinda distracting and hard to make out. But that can be just me.

anyways! MegaCon is this weekend! Woo!

You know...

Every time I ask someone in the biz to look at something I've done, I get a "would love to, but can't because of legality issues." And since those are the people I want to look at this site, and me, posting a full issue of something I've worked on is kind of a mistake. So I am just going to leave Sterling where it's at, and if people actually read this (I know you read this, KD, and you already read the whole thing), and want more, let me know, and I'll figure something out.