04-05-02
Oh, well... no Xeric grant for me. I guess I make too much
money... that was it right? No, really, that was the big
deciding factor to reject my beautiful presentation, right?
Hello?...
... Mr. Xeric, sir?
In other news, I just submitted a press release for Pennsylvania
newspapers, which will be distributed tomorrow. Wouldn't
it be swell if I actually see it printed? Then, the masses
will come flooding to my doorstep and demand that they make
me their king..
No, sorry, that's the result of step seven in my grand scheme
to conquer the universe.
04-01-02
I recently stopped into my local comic book shop and saw
the latest Previews... there it is, pretty as a... well,
a picture of a demon and a decaying city... page 303 is
the ad for Nether, and page 304 has my little description...
framed by a SPOTLIGHT. Coolness. Make your retailer order
a box of them!
02-04-02
Yee-frickin-haa!! Nether has been approved by Diamond. The
ad will appear in the April issue of Previews, and will
ship in June. Maybe if the Xeric guys now realize my genius,
we can get this thing rolling even faster...
01-25-02
Okay, well, maybe it took me longer than I originally anticipated,
but Nether is finally about to go off to not only DIAMOND,
but again to the Xeric people to apply for the grant. Issue
three was all but fully shaded, and the cover isn't done,
but... cross your appendages for me! I put practically everything
from the website in the proposals, with the exception of
this page of rants. No need to poison my chances, right?
The glossary and history and prologue got in there. Shit!
I forgot about the 8 page
intro comic. I will be copying tonight...
What took me so long to get it all together? Well, until
Nether becomes a regularly expected-to-publish thing, I
don't have plans to devote all my creative energy to its
production. Hell, I have rent to pay, too! The work I have
been doing for Kenzer is very time consuming, but I think
my skills have improved over the last few months, thanks
to the tight pencil work they require. I know, I know, I
keep bragging about how good this stuff looks, but I can't
display it on my website yet. Contract stuff. Anyway, it
will improve my art on Nether in the long run. Already,
there is a quantum leap between issues 2 and 3...
Åh, you'll see it soon enough. I've been living with
this world for six years. My baby is about to enter kindergarten,
and I'm having anxiety... you'll have to wait a few more
months.
9-17-01
Issue 2 is now completely done. Issue 3 is inked and scanned.
All should be done by the middle of October, then it's off
once again to Diamond!
If you are interested in reviewing Nether, contact me, and
I will send you a downloadable version of issue 1. The catch
is that you need to write a review, so I can send it along
with my submission to Diamond - the more they feel that
Nether has an audience, the better the chances that they
will choose to distribute it. You could be a part of history!
8-9-01
I just found Frank Miller's speech at the 2001 Harvey awards.
Brilliant and inspiring to anyone out there creating comics.
I love that guy. Met him once... very gracious and cool
to the geeky fanboy that I was. Anyway, this speech is mandatory
reading for anyone who ever put a pen to paper for any
reason other than doing schoolwork...
Thanks to Sabre's
Edge for posting the speech intact.
Read it now,
dammit! Post your comments in my new guestbook.
7-30-01
I just finished a FLASH INTRO for
Nether. Check it out.
Part 8 of the PROLOGUE is live.
7-23-01
Has it been that long since my last update? Issue 3 is
more than half inked, and judging by the responses I have
been getting at conventions (just got back from RuneCon
in CT), I definitely have a market for NETHER. (and found
a possible alternative career as a Karioke singer - long
story)
Thanks to all of you guys who stopped at my booth and gave
me a chance to chat up my story. I heard a lot of interesting
ideas from a bunch of people. Storytelling is alive and
flourishing in the world of games! It does my heart good
(snif).
Anyway, I am looking into some other fantasy/horror/and
gaming conventions, so if any of you know of any good ones
coming up in the next year, I would appreciate any info
on them.
Oh yeah... check out my sketchbook
section - some Nether sketches (some hints toward upcoming
characters) and other ventures into the surreality of my
inner workings. A big section on some sci-fi sketches, and
silly cartoons, too.
...let's face it, some of them are disturbingly silly.
Look and find out.
6-07-01
Production has been temporarily halted while I move into
the house I just bought with my fiance-to-be. HUGE studio
space that will be put to good use. Until my self-supporting-space-station-and-unlimited-funds
wish comes through, these things will happen from time to
time.
I was interviewed last month by Joe Muszynski of Modern
Mythology, INC. He is the founder of a Chicago-based museum
which promotes comic art. The physical museum will open
sometime in 2002, but the website features interviews with
other artists, now including myself.
I must admit, I have some juicy bits of information in
my interview. It is dangerous to give me a soap box to stand
on... CLICK HERE to read about
the internal workings of NETHER and its creator! Don't be
scared... it's only words...
I added a download for all of you loyal Netherians-in-waiting
(both of you)... a desktop image which you can download
from this page. Right now, I
only have one image for 1152 pixel wide monitors, but I'm
sure you can figure out how to make it fit!
More stuff later.
4-20-01
Issue 3's pencilling is done. Inking has begun.
I've been getting a lot of positive reviews from the preview
I sent to retailers last weekend. Maintaining high spirits
about continuing this project, thanks to feeback and a renewed
interest in writing. I recently plotted out the thumbnail
breakdown of issue 4, and the flow is perfect! Happy happy.
Been reading DUNE for the first time in my life. Bewilderingly
phenomenal writing. Amazing interior lives of the characters
were lost in both visual adaptations (the Lynch film, and
the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries). I should have read this
years ago.
4-4-01
I was recently contacted by Rafael
Kayanan, (check out the link) who was very supportive
of the plight of Nether. He contacted some of people in
the industry he knew to get them to take a look at the Nether
website. He also offered to review the first issue if I
sent it to him... well, he came through. Here is his review....
C.D. Regan did it.
He became a World Builder...
In his book 'Nether', Regan delivers a tale that slowly
envelops the reader with it's witty dialogue, solid pacing
and lush captions. The dark tonal linework reminds me of
old etchings harkening to the tunnel art prints by Henry
Moore. One can almost see the shadows slither on the ancient
ruins.
There's a grittiness to the whole book that's lost on many
from this genre. All too often they lack the depth and have
that over polished slickness, looking fake or cold. Regan's
succeeds in making the fantastic convey textures which reference
the real world. 'Nether' is an unpolished diamond and that's
where the appeal lies. You can see the small sparkles peeking
out
and the more we learn about the Age of Maga the more we're
thankful young talents like C.D. Regan chose not to abandon
this dwindling industry of comics.
Comics need wonderful tales like 'Nether' if they want to
attract new readers into this medium. He populates his story
with interesting multi-layered characters and scenarios.
His depictions of skirmish are tough, riveting and fresh.
Regan dares to tread into the minefield of the fantastic-
more dangerous to the creative mind than the impact of a
set of Robert Jordan hardbacks dropped from a high altitude.
Veterans of role playing or computer generated games escape
into the best of these worlds, seeking out those moments
when all is cool and fun.
Keep your eyes out for C.D. Regan's 'Nether' -it delivers
that.
Rafael Kayanan
This review came today - just after a weekend at the SPACE
convention in Columbus, Ohio. I decided to hold off on publishing
until next Spring. I will have up to issue 3 done by then,
and hopefully, with reviews like this and other professionals
and retailers giving their feedback, Diamond will decide
to distribute Nether... and then the price of printing will
be justified.
Big thanks to Rafael for his overwhelmingly positive review.
I forget how much money I sent to bribe him, but it sure
bought a great review, eh? Best thing, bribes are a tax
write-off!
(I joke ... Of course, I wouldn't report a bribe
on my taxes.)
3-21-01
Okay. Maybe next year.
Two factors collided for me to decide to put Nether on
hold... again.
One - Diamond rejected it for distribution, and
I can't afford to try to publish without the coverage that
they provide. Simple. They are making decisions that will
continue to erode the potential of the medium, stifling
the creative vision of many younger new creators. Sure,
I am a little bitter, but that leads me to the next reason.
Two - My mate and I are about to buy a house together,
and having to deal with those strains will make any new
ventures into publishing or otherwise very impractical at
this point in time.
Practical reasons, yes? I will continue to update the PROLOGUE
almost monthly (the story is coming along nicely) and work
on the actual comic. Right now, Issue 3 is more than half
pencilled, and issue 2 needs some touching up.
03-16-01
I have gotten a lot of support from some pros in the industry
regarding my rejection by Diamond. Raphael Kayanan contacted
me and sent my web address around to friends and professionals
he knows to help spread the word. Who says there is no honor
among comic guys. From his prompting, Tony Isabella contacted
me with interest. Wow.
Anyway, I have to get busy now, revamping some of the details
of the comic. A preliminary look by my printer suggested
I lighten up some of the shading, and changing the font
of the text to make them more traditional looking and hand-lettered.
I will also be attending the SPACE convention in Columbus
Ohio in two weeks. For the uninitiated, that is the Small
Press & Alternative Comics Expo where I will be shmoozing
with my contemporaries and see what kind of REAL UNSTIFLED
talent is out there. If you make it there, look for the
MAELSTROM GRAPHICS booth. I will be driving out there with
Steve Peters, of Awakening Comics. 9 hours.
What the hell am I thinking?? Nine hours on the road in
a Jetta of questionable reliability... see what I do for
my art?
02-15-01
I am fucking baffled.
Diamond just gave me feedback that they rejected
Nether...
Seriously... I just heard that the project was rejected
by the comics purchasing department and is being forewarded
to the retailer review committee. If they decide that they
don't like it, Diamond will NOT DISTRIBUTE Nether.
Who the fuck gets rejected by Diamond??
... apparently me!
02-04-01
Happy
Millennium (the REAL one).
Nether
#3 is in production as I wait for Diamond Distributers to
approve it. I am looking for advertising prices on websites
and stuff like that . Just a little scary. Oh, I updated
the PREVIEW pages for Nether
#2 - better samples - and I am ready to send out samples
of #1 to retailers and professionals.
If you
are a professional who happened to find this page (if you
ARE a professional, why do you have all this free time to
futz around on the Internet??), let
me know and I will send you a promotional copy of #1.
You have to promise that you will send me a review though...
that is the catch! Yeah, like any pro is actually motivated
to contact me to make more work for themselves.
Cynicism
keeps me warm at night!
10-10-00
I wonder
what that date means in binary language? Well, I just started
scanning in the inked pages for NETHER 2. My, my, how I have
grown as a photoshop geek. It is taking me a half hour now
what used to take me 2 hours... and it looks a lot better,
too.
Yeah...
AND?? I know what you are thinking... when am I going to actually
SHOW some work from NETHER? Well, as soon as I get #2 done,
(I still have 8 pages to decide what to do with) I will put
a sample up on this site for all to see. Kinda like what I
did with the Confessor
pages...
In the midst
of lot of side projects, I am back on track. Nether WILL be
published sometime in early 2001. You have my permission to
hunt me down and tattoo "loser" on my forehead if
you don't see it advertised in Previews before June.
Okay?
Really...
I will...
6-1-00
Last night,
I uploaded the first continuation of Nether's Prologue and
sent a message out to a group of conspirators-
Here is
a response from 'Trickster Xelloss' :
You
draw a very wicked looking wyrm and I love the sword. I thought
Kole was cracked in the head when he let himself be swallowed.
But apparently that was a good idea.. (I'd never do that.
heheh) I know I don't need to tell you how excellent the art
is since that's a given! But still.. breathtaking stuff.
Check out
her online Manga work here
- she has a real grasp on the Japanese mannerisms and look
of a true Manga. Compelling story, too..
5-25-00
Another
artist to watch is Ren Hayes - he does a mean online comic
called CAIN
- a surreal landscape and story about the first murderer.
He does another project called GEN-XORCISTS
which is as much fun as BUFFY, with twice the blood and angst...
I checked
out NETHER, by the way, and man it's GORGEOUS. Excellent work.
He also
checked out my work on the CONFESSOR...
In
a word, STUNNING! My God, what wonderful artwork! I found
myself thinking about HEAVY METAL back in the 80's when HM
was still good! Why haven't I heard of the Confessor before???
Beats the hell out of PREACHER, I'll tell you that!
Damn! You
just know that he will be getting a promo copy of Nether...
5-19-00
I'm done
pencilling Issue #2. Another rejection from a publisher...
I guess I'll just publish the damned thing myself when I get
#2 done (and get my credit cards paid off). It seems every
time I get excited about going foreward, something sends me
back, and every time I feel like Nether will never see print,
I get some positive feedback or find some inspiring me to
continue.
The jury
is still out whether I will be going to the SPX in August.
No word whether the Nether prologue made it into the anthology
comic. Life in limbo. Getting some writing done, though. The
continuation of the Prologue will be rolling soon - mostly
text with some illustrations just for the Web.
This is
the medium where I can publish ANYTHING, right? What's the
problem? Let's get on with it already!
4-25-00
I got my
first online sale! My first fan! Needless to say, a copy of
the first issue of Nether went along for the ride...
I just
wanted to tell you that I received the comics and the preview
and thought that they kicked some major ass! You my friend
have some major talent not to mention a creative mind that
rivals those of many contemporary comic pioneers today. I
can't wait to see more, more, more of what you have in store,
keep rolling 'em out and I'll keep buying 'em! :) Well, I
won't brag on ya for too long, but I just wanted to let you
know of what a fine job you did and you deserve a multitude
of thanks. Keep it up man!
Thank YOU,
to Ron Scott.
3-5-00
I've sent
a few promotional copies of Nether around. Here is another
glowing review - by Chris Judge:
Firstly,
I am not a big fan of the adventure comic. But well, I just
may have to change my mind. If anyone can bring it back to
fore, I think it's you.
From what I've read, you approach it with a broadband background
and a cool intellect that I have never seen done with the
medium before.
I really like the characters as well. Especially the dude
with the symbiote, very cool (Bardo).
What struck me as impressive about that was the manner in
which the other character described the change as smelling
like rotten apples.
(this is mentioned in issue one as Bardo transforms)
And the story that was told was a very very nice touch, good
character development.
I really like your work, your art is downright fantastic -
what are you using? (black
Ink drybrushed, washed, and spattered with a toothbrush -
highlights with white gesso - for all you technique junkies)
I wish you all the luck and honestly and sincerely hope to
see a helluva lot more of your book, I feel with the proper
advertising it could be a real fuckin' Wizard magazine top
ten deal. And I'm serious.
Chris
Judge is a talented newcomer to the comic industry. I began
corresponding with him after I read a copy of his work at
the SPX two years ago. His storytelling is a raw psychological
exploration of characters with a surreal edge and dark intensity.
11-30-99
Christopher
Moeller responded well to the preview I sent him. Not only
did he provide some meaty wordbytes of which I will be using
in an advertising campaign, Chris gave me a thorough critique
of the project, which was both inspiring and humbling.
You may
know his cover work - a clean and dimensional style which
has appeared many times next to the DC and Marvel logos. His
storytelling takes no prisoners, either. "Iron
Empires"
is the name of his world, and installments have been seen
in Dark Horse Comics, as well as DC's alternative titles.
Anyway,
here are some highlights of his letter:
"Wow,
... outstanding work, man! The story is cool, deep, textured,
intelligent. It rocks!"
"Overall,
an excellent piece of work, Chuck. ... I think the story is
lovely. Very calm and clear storytelling, hints at a larger
backstory (man after my own heart), interesting and compelling
characters. The character design, visually, is very nice.
The lettering and sound effects are clear and unobtrusive.
A terriffic package, you should be proud.
Thanks
for sending it to me"
11-09-99
Here is
Alan Grant's review of Nether:
"First
thoughts: it's a long time since I've been so impressed with
a first issue of any comic. I'm really taken with the mix
of artwork and design. It's original, it's different, and
it looks great. You don't say if it's to be in colour or black-and-white,
but either way I don't think it matters too much because it
just looks so damned good! As long as it's wrapped in a same-style
colour cover, I think people will pick it up. Insist that
your printer gives you the high production values you deserve
- this is one comic that must not be printed on cheap throwaway
paper.
Story-wise,
you tell us all we need to know then invite us to dive straight
in. Cutting between dialog and those beautiful explanatory
captions works well, and adds to the impression that what
we're reading has genuine "historical" significance.
The characters are intriguing, more so because it's obvious
we're going to get to know them as we go along with the tale,
rather than having them shoved, fully-formed, down our throats
in episode #1. I want to know what happens next - and no comic
can ask for higher praise (at least from me).
I hate
comparisons, so I'm not going to drag in the names of well-known
comics creators who might have given you inspiration. "Nether"
is more than capable of standing on its own merits, and if
I'm any judge at all it deserves to succeed in a big way."
- A big
warm thank you to Mr. Grant for his support. I met him at
a signing five or six years ago - he was then and continues
to be one of the most gracious people I know - in and out
of the comics industry. He has validated to me that regardless
of how horrible the industry may be, there continues to be
a brotherhood of selfless martyrs who will continue to create
comics for the sheer love of it. And despite his successes,
even Alan has felt the wrath of bad sales and fickle editors
at the big corporations.
10-15-99
Alas, another
setback for the world of Nether.
Production
continues. Issue one is complete with the exception of two
pages which will be reserved for editorials, letters, and
the usual nonsense. I sent out a few proposals to publishers,
but to be honest, it sounds like everything sucks out there
in the industry. Maybe I will just keep working on this until
the industry comes around again, since nobody wants to take
a chance anymore...
Personally,
I think it's the best time to be experimental. All of the
recycled crap has lost its luster. People are craving fresh
ideas, and unless the bigwigs out there get a clue and go
for something with substance, the industry will continue to
collapse under the weight of corporate identities and "marketability".
Comics were
always a rogue industry. I think we need to go back to our
roots. Back to the experimental days of the early 80's, when
B & W ruled. Underpaid creators etched out their souls,
and idealistic publishers recognized the art of it all.
Maybe it's
me who is idealistic, and colorizing my memories. I was in
my teens, and it ALL looked new and exciting to me. But even
so, I did recognize crap when I saw it. The "that guy
made money off of this genre and so can I" rip offs stood
out like a fireman at a white sale, and I scoffed. Where are
they now? Nowhere.
But, then
again, neither am I, and I like to believe that I have integrity.
So, which is better: sell out to make a small mint and end
up nobody in ten years; or continue to experiment in the medium
and become the artist's artist, only to maintain anonymity
and financial stagnancy? At least with the latter, I can make
fun of the former openly without having to edit myself for
the sake of my image.
Oh, I'm
just bitter. Nevermind. DC just called me with a job.
Just kidding.
