Diamond has announced that beginning in January 2011 all comic stores in North America and the UK will be able to get their comics on Tuesdays, the day before the street date. Until now, only larger stores were able to do so. This new policy sounds fair to me. Watch for more reviews to appear on line in times the day before the comics are on sale to the public.

My New Position At Red Leaf Comics

I've just been offered and accepted the position of Senior Editor over at John Michael Helmer's Red Leaf Comics. Check out Red Leaf at http://www.redleafcomics.com/.
I've already been helping John develop his comics, and my new position at Red Leaf won't affect my publishing, editing, and scripting duties at my own company, Surprising Comics.

Surprising Theater Status

Mike Rickaby is finishing inking and lettering the short Modern Leaf backup story for Surprising Theater #3. John Michael Helmer is finishing lettering the main story, and has some production work left for the cover, then it's on to the printer for issue 3.
Issue #4 isn't far from completion either. Soon it's going to be time to start putting the pieces in place for Surprising Theater #5.

Steve Perry Story

Steve Williams just finished pencilling the 7 page story, "The Battle Of Dulce," written by the late Steve Perry, former Marvel Comics writer, for Surprising Comics. It's now on to Stuart Berryhill for inking. This story is scheduled for Surprising Theater 4.

Since Surprising Theater 3 is on schedule for an early October release date, and it's a quarterly book, it won't be long until we send this issue off to the printer.

It's a bittersweet feeling to be so close to finishing this story and getting it ready to print. Steve Perry was excited I'd be publishing it, and we corresponded often about the story and many other things as well. I miss Steve Perry.

Surprising Theater #3 Cover Prelim

Here's an almost completed cover prelim to Surprising Theater #3, due to be sent to the printer next month. Art and coloring by Randy Valiente. This issue features a 26 page story starring Canada's Greatest Hero The Leaf, scripted by John Michael Helmer with art by Randy Valiente, and a 2 page story of Canada's Greatest Hero The Leaf scripted by yours truly with pencils by Stuart Berryhill and inks by Mike Rickaby.

1999 Hulk John Byrne Run

I've always wanted to read the all too short John Byrne run from the current Incredible Hulk series. For those of you who don't remember, that series began in 1999, and Byrne wrote the first seven issues.

Well, I purchased the entire run on eBay yesterday. Those seven issues seem fairly hard to find, and I had to purchase them from three separate sellers, which drove my costs up due to paying three shipping fees. I'm looking forward to finally reading this run, though.

Depthon Story In Surprising Theater 2

I plotted a short story starring my character Depthon, Son Of The Ocean, that appears in the second issue of Surprising Theater, published by my company Surprising Comics. ( http://www.surprisingcomics.com/ )
I had heard of the cruelty done by certain people, who catch sharks, cut off their fins for making shark fin soup, and toss the sharks back into the water to drown. My plot had Depthon running into the aforementioned situation, and doing what I would do under those circumstances if I were Depthon.
The story was graced by a Chris Sheehan script, editing by John Michael Helmer, art by Steve Williams, and lettering and design work by George E Warner.

My Stan Lee Boom Universe Board

I've started a message board to document and discuss the new comic universe utilizing Stan Lee characters being published by Boom! Studios. Check it out at

http://www.stanleeboomuniverse.proboards.com/

Lost In Space

I used to love the Lost In Space TV show when I was a kid. I looked forward to getting out of school and watching the one-hour show shortly after arriving home each day.

Now, I'm interested in the Lost In Space comic book series, published by Innovation in the early nineties. It's of particular interest to me, as Bill Mumy, the actor who played Will Robinson in the TV series, worked for the entire comic series as a writer and consultant. I'm thinking of tracking down the comic book series. Check out the cover to the first issue in the pic.

The American Guard In Action

Here's a page featuring my character The American Guard in action! It's from the seldom seen Suddenly LandMark! #1. Art and design work are by Dashing Dave Allred.

Surprising Characters. Surprising Comics. That's my new slogan for Surprising Comics. I commissioned artist Randy Valiente to design an ad for Surprising Comics incorporating the new slogan, as seen in this image.

John Michael Helmer

John Michael Helmer is not only the Senior Editor and a writer for Surprising Comics, he's started his own comic book publishing company, Red Leaf Comics.
Check out his website at http://www.redleafcomics.com/ for more info on what John's up to. His first comic, The Leaf #1, is due to hit the racks in late September.

Pictured are John and me. I'm the guy holding a copy of Surprising Theater #1.

Selling Comics On eBay

I bought and sold comic books on eBay for over 9 years using the user id grandcanyoncomics. During that time I received over 7,500 feedbacks, without a single negative feedback standing.
After all that time, I decided a few months ago I wanted a bit of a fresh start, and also, having been considering for some time I may end up leaving the Grand Canyon state, thereby making that user id outdated, I decided to change my user id on eBay to stockcomics. Stock Comics was the name I bought and sold under when I was a teenager, buying and selling comics via the Comics Buyers Guide.

Check out my eBay auctions here.

Now for a word from our sponsor... me! Aside from our website at www.surprisingcomics.com, Surprising Comics has a message board located at www.surprisingcomics.proboards.com. So... check 'em out!

Perilous Adventures #1

Aside from my scripting, editing, and publishing work I do for Surprising Comics, I also write for other comic book companies. To that end CE Publishing has just put out Perilous Adventures #1, which has an 11 page story I scripted called Flying Objects. The entire issue is 28 great pages. Go to www.carbonatedcomics.com/GetComicDetails?c=54 to download this issue for a mere .99!

VALIANT Prices

One thing I love to do is watch back issue prices on comic books. In view of the new Dark Horse line of comics featuring Gold Key characters that is being overseen by the chief architect of the Valiant Comics universe, Jim Shooter, I'm keenly interested to see what will happen with back issue prices of Valiant comic books. I feel namely back issue prices on Solar, Magnus, and Turok prices may rise, if the new launch at Dark Horse is successful.
Ten days ago there were five complete sets of Valiant's Solar series for sale on eBay. Since then, three sets of Valiant Solar have sold there, leaving just two for sale on the Bay. This fits in with my expected increase in demand for Valiant Solar issues due to the new launch.