Steven D. Forbes

Let me tell you, things are getting VERY interesting for me. VERY interesting, indeed. Let me tell you some of it.

I’m the editor of Lionman and the Seven Kurodos. I’ve been speaking with Grand Master Eric O’Neal, and he took the e-mail I sent him to the board he sits on, and they confirmed me for the job. So, I’m in, and the things this man has brewing for this concept are totally insane! Totally! I’m SO excited I can barely contain it!

This isn’t just about the graphic novel, but it is. EVERYTHING ties back into it. There’s a 20 city tour kicking off next month in Atlanta. In every city, he’s going to be searching for 7 teenagers to compete to be one of the 7 kurodos. Where does this tour wrap up? In Los Angeles. Disneyworld. That’s right. Disney has already signed off on this. It ends there in June. The winners then get their likenesses put in the next graphic novel.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s going to be something. There are plans, and as they come closer to fruition, I’ll be able to share more with you. But like I said, an exciting time!

There are a few road bumps, though. It wouldn’t be life without them. The first one is the initial book. The initial book is going to be scrapped, in favor of the new book I’m going to helm. Right now, I’m searching for a creative team to do this new book. Grand Master O’Neal knows what he wants to see, and I know what I want to see, and together, we’re going to bring that vision to life. I’ve been looking at some online portfolios, as well as contacting people I’ve worked with before in order to get this job done. When we get it together, after what I’m perceiving to be a shaky start, we’re going to rock and roll. Why shaky? Because things are always shaky until everyone gets their bearings. It should be good, though.

Lionman is going to rock. Just the thought of what can be accomplished with this gives me chills. It’s going to be HOT!

I’ve also picked up another editing gig. This is just scriptwork, and won’t take too long. It’ll be good. It’s already done, and I’m just waiting for the money to be transferred so I can send the writer the script back. Yes, I saved the writer some money by having them agree to let me post a few pages on The Proving Grounds. That was done, so it won’t hurt the wallet as much.

I’m also moving forward with John Lees. He hired me for project management, and what I’ve done is started to teach him the ropes of what to look for and what to run away from when he does his projects. He’s getting an education I never got, because there wasn’t anyone like me around to show an up and comer the ropes. Sucks, but such is life. He’ll be fine when this is all over.

Anyway, with my guidance, we found a penciler who can also ink himself, and when the pages are done, we’ll be looking for a colorist and letterer. We’ll then start the submission process to a few places. He wants to try the traditional route first, and I think he has a strong enough story to pull it off.

Harry Durnan has also gotten me a script, finally. I’ll be working on that tomorrow night, while at work. Hell, I may work on it tomorrow morning. I haven’t decided yet. He should be getting it soon, though. He’s come a ways down the path, so I’m not expecting this to be horrible. I’ll be finding out sometime tomorrow, I guess.

That’s it about the comic stuff. Real life has been interesting, as well.

We moved. Downsized from a four bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment. Yeah. Fun, right? For all intents and purposes, the move itself is done. It’s now just a matter of cleaning the house, which I’ll do after work each day. It should be finished by Saturday, I’m thinking. That’ll be good. The apartment, though…that’s another couple of weeks. We have to decide what’s staying and what’s going into storage, and find a place for whatever stays. Not my idea of a good time, but it’s for a worthy cause. We’re not moving again for three to four years, maybe even five. The plan is to get the debt down to nothing, as well as find some time to live a little. In the house, we weren’t living. We were existing to pay bills. This move should alleviate all of that.

My stepson, Isaiah, is going to try to join the Navy. He’s 19. I hope he makes it. I don’t think he will, but I abso-smurfly want him to prove me wrong. That would be smurfariffic. Why don’t I think he’ll make it? Because I think he’s got a little bit of bitch in him. Enough that he won’t make it. Like I said, I hope he proves me wrong. I want him to. But I dn’t think that’s going to be the case. And when he comes back, I’m going to play Jimmy’s Got A Little Bit of Bitch in Him. George Clinton rules.

And I’m tired. No, really. I went to work, came home and moved, and moved, and cleaned and moved, and put things in their places and moved, and I have more cleaning and moving and putting in their places tomorrow. THIS time, however, we’re keeping all the damned boxes! No more of this shit!

Okay, time for a small nap. A couple of hours. I have to get up early in the morning in order to actually sleep in the afternoon.

Go watch 30 Days of Night. You’ll thank me later.

-Steven

Things are still going well with Lionman. Frustrating, but well.

I contacted a few artists from the list of artists that I got when I sent one of the writers I work with on an artist search. Now, this is also after I was sent another artist from another creator I’m working with, this time, in a writing capacity. I basically gave them a little taste as to what’s going on: the 20 city tour that ends in Disneyworld; the fact that Disney has already signed off on the tour ending there, stuff like that. I told them that I was looking for their interest and their phone numbers if they were. (I already had their page rates.) Well, out of everyone that I contacted (about five), only ONE of them came back to me with everything I needed. One.

Because we need different looks (as well as those who actually WANT the job), I was forced to go on an artist search. I revised the e-mails I’d been sending, and then posted it up on Digital Webbing. So far, I’ve gotten a decent amount of responses, most of them international. I sent a couple of the best to Grand Master O’Neal, along with the one artist who got back to me, and I hope to discuss those with him later today.

So, I basically have a complete team put together. They just need to be finalized by Grand Master O’Neal, and then we can move forward. We all need contracts, and he needs to send me checks so I can pay the creative team as necessary. It’s going to be a decent amount of work, but that’s why I’m an editor in comics, right?

I have to start sending out rejection notices, though, and those aren’t fun. I’m especially not looking forward to one guy, who also answered the ad to The Standard. He wouldn’t take “No” for an answer from John, and I had to come in and handle it. It shouldn’t be much of a problem this time around, but you never know.

I am just a little saddened, though. I didn’t get any nibbles from either Joe Rubenstien or Josh Hoopes. I guess Lionman doesn’t rate yet. Ah, well.

And things are happening with The Five, as well. I don’t know what Mark Cooper has on his plate, but I know what Mark Bertolini has, and it’s exciting! He has an offer for a deal from a mid-level publisher. He just needed a little help with something, which I did my best to provide. He got back to me, saying I should be a national treasure. Yes, that warmed my heart and made me smile. Then, he got back to me again, because he’s having artist woes. He got with an artist that flaked out on us when I was with Paper Dragonz, and the artist didn’t like some of the clauses in the contract. So, the artist basically screwed himself out of a publication deal (I’m thinking it would be his first real deal, but I’m not sure), and Mark has moved on. I sent him over some worthwhile artists for his perusal. Hopefully, he likes what he sees.

Ronald Montgomery has finally started his California Ashley webcomic. His first story is coming out decently. I have to send him an ad for Group. Hell, I have to find an artist for Group!

And as for Baz…well, his wife just had their second child. And he’s getting some traction with his books and moving forward with his comic stuff. He’s talking to a writer who’s done a lot of work for the same mid-level publisher that Bert has a deal with, and I just sent them an e-mail, saying they need to talk.

Maybe I am a national treasure. Heh.

Anyway, I’m going to be a BUSY something, no matter what happens. Let’s see:

-Lionman. That’s going to be a big one, and I’m looking forward to it.

-Hollow. I just spoke to Larime last night, and they’re starting work on it next week. It’s still with Archaia, and the first issue is in the can. Larime’s doing the second and subesquent issues himself. Nothing special, right? Well, Larime draws with his mouth. Yeah. NOW it’s something special. I think, scriptwise, the first arc is in the can. I’m probably not going to be needed much on it, except for a final lookover on the pages before they get submitted. It should be fine.

-Gangrene. This is Baz’s baby, and I said I’d edit it for him for free, depending on the publishing of it. The publishing house may have their own editor to attach to it.

-The Standard. John Lees is coming along VERY well with that. We have an artist attached, and there was a small money thing that needed to be straightened out. With that done, it’s going to be full steam ahead. It’s going to work out well.

-Fallen. I’m working with Harry Durnan on it, and he finally sent me a script. He’s going to rework it into something that has more punch. It was an okay first draft, but it could have been much better. That’s why he hired me, though.

-I also have a few miscellaneous editing gigs here and there. Speaking of which, I have to send an e-mail to another guy. I have e-mails to send to a few guys.

-I have to get on the stick about the writing gig I have with another creator. We have to finish the plot of the first graphic novel, so I can start writing it. This will be an eventual paid gig, and I’ll put it before my other personal projects.

-I still have Bolts & Nuts to write. Over a year, without missing a week. Hell, without being late. Go me!

-Still writing The Proving Grounds. Well, not really writing it, per se, but still, it takes time to edit and put them up on the site. However, I’m pretty proud of it. I’m looking at it as the little column that could. Based on the initial interest I had in it based on the poll I did, there were only about 8 people that were interested. I have enough scripts right now to go into my 40th week, I think, and people keep coming out of the woodwork for it. I’m highly surprised, and think that it’ll go for as long as I’m available to do it. However, as soon as the paid things continue to come in, this column will be the first to go.

-I have to find an artist for Group (and finish writing it); I have to then letter the same;  I have to get with Jim Taylor about a different idea I sent him the script on; I have to then letter the same (and might have some publisher interest in it, as well); I have to do something with Bullet Time, because I want that finished.

-I still have to put together my B&N book.

So, with all of that, I can say that, yes, I’m pretty damned busy. I’m still waiting on people to get back to me with other paid gigs, as well. There are people I’m either working with or know that have exciting prospects before them. As long as I keep my nose to the grindstone and keep the plates spinning, all of my hard work should pay off here pretty soon. Hell, things in comics could really take off for me in 2 years. There are plans, folks. There are plans.

In real life, the move has been completed! You have NO idea how happy I am about that. There are just VERY few odds and ends to get out of the garage, but other than that, it’s done. Now, to turn in the keys on Tuesday, and be done with it. Once we get the apartment squared away, things will be settled into a more structured way of life. I’m really looking forward to that. I can then start my workouts again. I like the look I was achieving with it, and by next summer, I should look pretty damned good.

I’m also looking forward to having a little bit of money in order to live. Just a little bit. I’m talking about being able to go out to the movies once in a while, or out to dinner. Go out with some of my co-workers, and not have to worry about it. That’s my idea of a good time. What with all of my comic projects coming about, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do much going out, but having the option is nice, y’know?

Lenora’s family just got smaller. Her uncle passed away a few days ago, and her aunt passed a few months ago. She found out about them both on one day. She was sent home on bereavement. (The great thing about this apartment is that her job is literally across the street.) She’s holding up well now.

My step-son is getting better, after our conversation. He seems to be doing what he needs to do, and isn’t whining as much. He even came to me to ask about playing some video games with him, and seems to be kinda interested in my b/w horror movies. I’m pleased with it, and I want it to continue.

I think that’s about it, for the moment. Go watch One Body Too Many. It’s got Lugosi in it, and the guy that played the Tin Man. You’ll thank me later.

-Steven

Today wasn’t the best day for me. The downer? Sending out simple rejection letters. It’s something that I absolutely HATE doing. Perfectly good artists, but there’s room for only one. It sucks, but there it is.

That’s the only real problem with this entire process. You open up the floodgates and you get some decent artists, knowing you have to throw most of them back. The ones that aren’t that good I have no qualms about passing on. One guy wanted over $200/page for pencils and inks. I think he made a mistake, personally, and added one too many zeroes. It’s not something that I’d pay that amount of money for. And there were some who wanted $20/page, but weren’t worth it at all. Not for this project.

And things are continuing to move forward with Lionman. The new website should be going live soon, and I’m going to have my own area on it. Maybe I’ll do something like a production blog on it to start. Update it a few times a week. It may be the only writing I get done for the next little bit, so I’ll do well to take advantage of it. Lionman is going to hit VERY hard, and when it does, I’m going to be right in the mix of it, not as a spectator, but as a decision maker. And that’s going to be great.

I’ll never forget that this isn’t my concept or character, but I’m going to help steer it to be the best it can be. It’s all about presentation, and I’m going to make the presentation sparkle. I have no choice in the matter. I’m a snob about what I attach my name to, and because of that, I’m going to make sure it’s the best it can be. I’m just looking forward to the time when I can step away from my job in order to concentrate just on Lionman. And when that happens, it’s going to be a great day.

Things are settling down in the apartment. Looking forward to next month, though. That should be good. Getting rid of kids is my idea of a good time. Looking forward to having a quiet house again. These “adults” are noisier than children! But they’ll learn. Everyone learns.

We’re buying a second car. Finally. One of our neighbors is moving, and has to sell it. They were asking $1800 for it, but we got them down to $1500. I wouldn’t have paid more than that for it, no matter what the Blue Book value says. I’m not saying I’m the best person to know the value of a car, but I like to think I have a decent sense about it. So, they have to draw up some paperwork and sign things over, and we’ll start the process of registering it and such. They have to leave by Wed, so we’re expecting things to be finished before then. Possibly tomorrow.

It’s going to be a little strange being a two-car family. We’ve only had 2 cars once, in Virginia Beach, and that was for about a month. Not being dependent on one another for the car is going to be nice–not that we need to be dependent anymore. Lenora’s job is literally right across the street, so she can (and has) walked to work. I don’t have to take her, which is getting me more uninterrupted sleep. Well, it should, but it isn’t.

This past week, I’ve only been able to sleep for no more than 4 hours at a time. Yes, I’ve even stayed up later in order to be more tired and get some sleep then. No dice. Not my idea of a good time, either. I was like a zombie in the middle of the night, but got my energy back a couple of hours before the night was over. Yes, it sucked. I’ll do better next week.

OMG! I’m listening to the siblings squawk at one another. My stepson is 19, and he whines. Sounds like a bitch. Drives me absolutely batty. Yes, he has nothing but older sisters. I get that. But damn!

Anyway, this is a short one. More stuff to do, but I needed to check in here. I’m going to take some stuff to the storage facility, then I’m going to finally watch some movies. Wal-Mart has been good to me lately. Recent purchases are The Five Deadly Venoms, Watchmen, Transformers, Congo, The Batman Collection (Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin), the Lethal Weapon Collection, and season one of Stargate SG-1. On payday, I’ll go back and get the Beverly Hills Cop collection. With that, I could probably make an Eddy Murphy night: BHC, Trading Places, and Delirious. Those five would fill my dvd changer nicely. And they’re cheap! We probably would have left with season 2 of SG-1 if they had it. They had up to season 5, methinks.

Enough! Listen to some Duke Ellington. Just let it flow.

-Steven