The Wheelhouse

Out This Week: PIGS #4 and MEMOIR #5!

2011-12-12T13:32:00.004-05:00

I have two comics out this week (Wednesday, December 14th): PIGS #4 and MEMOIR #5.

First up, PIGS #4, featuring a wonderful cover by Becky Cloonan (see left). Wrapping up the first story arc in shocking fashion, this issue highlights what the PIGS are capable of when push comes to shove... Whether Felix likes it or not. And if you'll remember issue #1's cliffhanger? Yeah, that one? Well, it's time for us to prove that we haven't forgotten about it. No siree...

Next, MEMOIR #5! It's been a long time coming (believe me, I know) but the spooky goings-on will hopefully make up for the wait. Some surprising revelations in this one, including insight into the mysterious shadow people and what they're all about.

Hope you dig 'em both!

Dave Gibbons covers PIGS!

2011-10-20T13:47:00.006-04:00

So the Image Comics January 2012 solicitations have gone live (is that *really* less than three months away...?) and include PIGS #5, with a startling cover by none other than Mr. DAVE GIBBONS!

Me and Nate have made a real effort to ensure that PIGS' covers are in equal part diverse, stylish and (in a nutshell) AWESOME. With artists such as Jock, Francesco Francavilla, Amanda Conner and Becky Cloonan having already contributed, I think we've succeeded! And believe me, there are lots more top-notch artists coming up.

As I'm sure you'll agree, this particular piece is an absolute beauty: Classic and cool. Many thanks to Dave for agreeing to do it!

MEMOIR picked up by Warner Bros. TV!

2011-10-19T17:57:00.002-04:00

In yet more awesome news, Publisher's Marketplace has announced that MEMOIR, the Image Comics series by me and Nikki Cook, has been picked up by Warner Bros. Television!

MEMOIR is about a small Midwestern town where one morning everybody wakes up with no idea who they are, where they are, or what's happened. The whole town's memory has been erased. All except for one man... He remembers EVERYTHING.

Many thanks to my agent Angela Cheng Caplan and also Kim Yau at the Cheng Caplan Company for putting the deal together.

Announced: NEVSKY

2011-10-19T17:42:00.003-04:00

So NYCC was a wild (but fun) show for me. Lots of catching up with friends, meeting people kind enough to buy my books, and of course, Work Stuff. And speaking of which, I was delighted to announce NEVSKY, a brand new 110-page graphic novel to be published by IDW Publishing next Spring.

Telling the tale of Alexander Nevsky, the heroic Russian leader who banded together an army of fearless warriors to topple the all-conquering Teutonic Order, the GN adapts Sergei Eisenstein's classic film and introduces its pioneering storytelling and action sequences to a fresh, contemporary audience. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping! It's illustrated beautifully by rising star Mario Guevara, and we're both beyond excited for people to check it out.

Lots more info on the book's official website here: http://nevskythegraphicnovel.com/

IMMORTALS and PIGS #2 out this week!

2011-10-10T13:29:00.007-04:00

On a side note from the (enjoyable) madness that is New York Comic Con, I also have 2 books out this week. First up, IMMORTALS: GODS AND HEROES from Archaia. Check out David Mack's gorgeous cover above! It boasts an array of top-notch talent including (but not limited to) Ben Templesmith, Phil Hester, Ron Marz, Jock, Dennis Calero, Jim McCann, Kevin Colden, Jeff Parker & Paul Tobin. And by all accounts the actual book is GORGEOUS--designed and packaged beautifully. But what else would you expect from Archaia?

Also out this week is the second issue of PIGS, by me, Nate Cosby, Breno Tamura, Chris Sotomayor and Rus Wooton. The first issue picked up some incredible reviews (for which we're all tremendously grateful) and we're hoping that y'all enjoy this next installment just as much.

I'll be signing PIGS (and other stuff) at Jim hanley's Universe this coming Wednesday, along with a slew of other creators including Nathan Edmondson (Who is Jake Ellis?), Charles Soule (Twenty Seven), Edwin Huang (Skullkickers), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen) and more!

Jim Hanley's Universe is on 33rd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues, opposite the Empire State Building. The fun starts at 6:30pm.

Bring beer.

New York Comic Con!

2011-10-10T12:32:00.005-04:00

Hard to believe, I know, but this week sees the start of NEW YORK COMIC CON! So far my signing schedule is as follows:

Friday 3pm-4pm: IMAGE COMICS booth, signing PIGS #1 & #2 with my gentleman of a co-writer NATE COSBY and variant cover artist extraordinaire KATIE COOK. Check out her super-cute, insanely awesome Con variant on the left! You'll ONLY be able to buy these at the show direct from us, priced $10.

Saturday 12pm-1:30pm: IMAGE COMICS booth, signing more PIGS with Nate Cosby, plus also series artist BRENO TAMURA!

We'll be selling Katie's amazing Con variant at both signings, btw.

Details of further signings to follow.

I'll also be on the COMICS HISTORY OF THE WORLD panel along with FRED VAN LENTE (Action Philosophers, Amazing Spider-Man) and GREG PAK (Incredible Hulks, Hercules), talking about a brand new yet-to-be-announced project as well as depictions of history and tales of lore in the wonderful world of comic books. That's on FRIDAY 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

Hope to see some of you at the show!

PIGS #1 out tomorrow!

2011-09-13T13:25:00.004-04:00

PIGS #1 hits stores tomorrow! And here's a sneak peek of an exclusive variant cover by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire. Pretty sweet, eh?

PIGS #1 out September 14th!

2011-08-18T12:39:00.006-04:00

Wow, what a crazy summer. I've not been blogging (again) and I apologise for the lack of updates. But in a nutshell, San Diego Comic-Con was as crazy (and fun) as always, and a week-long business trip to Los Angeles afterward was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life; more details about that coming soon!

But in the meantime, much of my focus is on PIGS. No, not the delightful bacon-producing creatures found on farms (and in perverts' back yards); I'm talking about my new ONGOING book from Image Comics, starting September 14th!

In case you haven't heard about it yet, PIGS tells the tale of a 2nd-generation KGB Cuban sleeper cell that's activated and assigned to overthrow the US government. But why? And why now?

Co-written with the always awesome Nate Cosby (Jim Henson's Storyteller), and boasting art by ludicrously talented newcomer Breno Tamura, I am beyond excited for this one. Chris Sotomayor (colour) and Rus Wooton (lettering & design) make up the rest of the creative team, although each issue features a guest cover artist: #1's epic imagery is by Jock (The Losers, Detective Comics), and can be seen in all of its glory above.

Next up, we have Francesco Francavilla, Amanda Conner, Becky Cloonan and Dave Gibbons (who once worked on a little independent book called Watchmen), and plenty more beyond that.

I promise to try and keep this here blog up to date with art and suchlike!

PIGS in USA TODAY!

2011-04-14T13:56:00.005-04:00

Check out this very cool interview with me and PIGS co-writer Nate Cosby in USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-04-13-PigsComic_N.htm

There's a 5-page preview from issue one, plus an exclusive glimpse of Amanda Conner's cover for issue three!

ANNOUNCED: PIGS

2011-04-11T14:49:00.006-04:00

I've been on the road for the past few weeks, attending awesome shows such as C2E2 and WonderCon. The latter featured a number of big announcements, including a few of my own!

First up was PIGS, an ongoing series written by me and Nate Cosby, with pencils and inks by fabulous newcomer Breno Tamura, colours by Chris Sotomayor, and lettering/design by Russ Wooton. Quite a team!

But the awesomeness doesn't stop there: the first six issues will feature cover art by the lofty likes of Jock, Francesco Francavilla, Amanda Conner, Ben Templesmith, Humberto Ramos and Becky Cloonan. Above are the covers by Jock and Francesco. Pretty nifty, eh?

In a nutshell, the book's about a 2nd-generation KGB Cuban sleeper cell that's reactivated and assigned to overthrow the United States of America's government.

Here's a link to a Comic Book Resources article, detailing a little more about the series: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=31706&page=article

And another up on Newsarama: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/ben-mccool-nate-cosby-pigs-110407.html

Lots more news soon!

THANKS, EVERYBODY!

2011-02-21T14:28:00.004-05:00

WOW. Seriously, just wow. The response to MEMOIR, the new Image mini-series by me and Nikki Cook, has been incredible. Issue one completely sold out to great acclaim, and a second printing is due 2nd March in the US, next day Europe. Check out the new version of John Cassaday's fabulous cover!

Issue two came out last Wednesday (February 16th) and has also picked up some fabulous reviews. They are all hugely appreciated, and I can guarantee that there's plenty more mystery, horror and small town oddballs still to come.

2011 is just getting started for me, and there'll be lots more announcements and new books over the coming months. One of 'em (an announcement, that is) in just a few short weeks!

I hope the New Year's treating everybody well so far, and fingers crossed I'll see some of you at a convention soon. I'll be attending C2E2 in Chicago next month (March); San Francisco's WonderCon in April; Wizard World (Big Apple Con) in NYC in May; Heroes Con, Charlotte, NC in June; San Diego Comic-Con in July; Baltimore Comic Con August; plus New York Comic Con in October.

Christ. It's gonna be a crazy year...

MEMOIR on RADAR video!

2011-01-03T09:56:00.001-05:00

Me and Nikki Cook talk MEMOIR! Issue one out January 19th from Image Comics.

Happy New Year, ye all!

New stuff out soon #2: MEMOIR

2010-11-26T12:02:00.002-05:00

Next up, MEMOIR.

The setting of MEMOIR, Lowesville, is a small town in the American Midwest, peaceful and quaint. But one morning the population awakens with no idea of who they are, where they are, or what's happened. The town's memory has been completely erased. All except for the mind of one man... He remembers everything.

A brand spanking new Image Comics series by me and the ludicrously talented Nikki Cook, issue one's out on January 19th. Better still, its cover is by superstar John Cassaday! And what a top-notch job he's done...

New stuff out soon #1: CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE KORVAC SAGA

2010-11-26T11:45:00.004-05:00

Christ, it's been a while since I updated this here blog. Quite a lot's happened in the meantime, too. For starters, CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE KORVAC SAGA, a 4-issue mini-series by me and Crag Rousseau, hits your local comic shop on December 8th. A re-imagining of the classic '70s series by Jim Shooter and George Perez, the book focuses on an outlandish connection between Cap and a man calling himself Michael Korvac. This mysterious stranger seems to know everything about Cap... Even stuff that he's never told anybody about. But who is he? Where did he come from? And what does he want with the Star-Spangled Avenger? Things are about to get real crazy in the life of Captain America... And those closest to him!

And as I'm sure you'll agree, Craig's cover looks AWESOME. Yay that man!

Another job for Marvel, bless 'em

2010-08-02T19:51:00.002-04:00

I've got a story inside INCREDIBLE HULK #615, out in October. More details here.

Can't wait for this one -- had an absolute blast writing it!

So now I write for Marvel. Crazy, eh?

2010-07-13T17:25:00.004-04:00

I today announced that I'm writing a CAPTAIN AMERICA mini-series for Marvel, hitting shelves this December. Naturally, I'm delighted to be working on such an esteemed character, and I'm having an absolute blast writing the book so far.

More news to follow, but here are a few links to get things started:

Official Marvel.com announcement and interview here

Newsarama interview here

Comic Book Resources interview here

More MEMOIR

2010-07-05T18:43:00.002-04:00

Eek, it's been some time since I've updated this here blog thing. Sorry about that... Been kinda crazy around these parts. There's LOTS more news on its way, though, including a big announcement next week. Also, at San Diego Comic-Con I'll be unveiling some more news about MEMOIR, the new Image series I'm working on with Nikki Cook. Above is a new promo poster!

More soon...

ANNOUNCEMENT: "MEMOIR"

2010-04-15T11:31:00.004-04:00

And you think YOU'RE stressed, eh? Just wait 'til you see what my devious mind is putting THIS guy through...

This morning a new project of mine was announced: "MEMOIR". I'm working on it with the uber-talented Nikki Cook (DMZ, Marvel's GIRL COMICS) and it's a six-issue series coming out from Image. Check out more of Nikki's work here.

I'll be chatting some more about "MEMOIR" on Image's New Projects panel at C2E2 in Chicago on Saturday, and there's a feature up on Comic Book Resources with more information. You can find it here.

CHOKER tour a huge success!

2010-03-22T21:24:00.002-04:00

Wow, what a ride. Over the past 3 weeks I've signed copies of CHOKER in a snow-covered New York City; a sun-drenched Florida; rain-ravaged Seattle and Portland; the heinously hot Arizona desert of Phoenix; and to top it off, the entertainment-centric city of Las Vegas. The tour was amazing, and though it's taken its mental toll on me (I've never been so exhausted in my LIFE) it was 100% worth it. What a blast.

In addition to this, both CHOKER issues one and two sold out immediately at the distributor level -- 2nd printing of #1 is out already, and you'll have another chance to pick up #2 on the same day that #3 is out. (End of April.) Speaking of which, check out the awesome front cover for issue three above!

More details about the double sellout on the CHOKER website here.

Thanks!

2010-02-25T13:43:00.002-05:00

The response to CHOKER has been tremendous, and I am eternally grateful for the support. Huge thanks to everybody who's spent their hard-earned cash on it!

We kicked off the signing tour at Comic Book Jones last night (website here) and had an absolute blast. Live music, professional chef, tasty beverages... Literally, everything you could possibly hope for! Big shout out to Socko, Tiger, Waffle and the rest of the team.

Tomorrow night (Friday, February 26th) we'll be signing at Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn from 8pm onward, and on Saturday we're at Midtown Comics (Grand Central store) from 2pm-4pm. Drop by and say hi!

I'll write more later, but I'll leave you for now with a great review of issue one on Comic Book Resources. Check it out it here.

Yay, CBR!

Bar Stories

2010-02-23T14:13:00.001-05:00

I talk Bar Stories on NYC Graphic here.

Nine Free Pages of CHOKER #1!

2010-02-23T13:37:00.001-05:00

The fine folks at NEWSARAMA have the first 9 pages of CHOKER issue one up today. You can check 'em out here.

The madness begins...

2010-02-22T12:42:00.004-05:00

Finally, this Wednesday, the 24th of February, Choker issue one hits your local comic book store. A few misprinted copies accidentally made it out on the 10th, and though I'm yet to see one, I hear they're all scrunched up and crinkled. Kinda like Joan Collins.

Me and Mr. Templesmith will be celebrating the book's release with a fun-filled signing tour, kicking off in NYC this week. We start at Comic Book Jones in Staten Island on Wednesday, from 5pm (ish) onward. Next, we'll be hitting Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn on Friday night, with festivities starting at 8pm. To wrap up in New York, we're signing at Midtown Comics in Manhattan (Grand Central store) 2-4pm on Saturday.

Full details of the tour can be found on the official CHOKER website here.

PS: Above is LARRY'S COMICS' own limited edition of issue one, available to purchase here. Nifty, eh?

Yay Christopher Butcher!

2009-12-29T11:51:00.002-05:00

Retailer extraordinaire CHRISTOPHER BUTCHER offers some very kind words re: CHOKER:

Image: Their big book this month is a six issue mini-series by Ben Templesmith and Ben McCool, called CHOKER. They kick off the promotion for this one with a six-page preview of the first issue, which is pretty-much unprecidented for Image; I think HAUNT only got 5 pages and that was from 2 Image partners. So, right off the bat, kudos to the Bens. Speaking of Mr. Templesmith, he is the artist for the currently-in-limbo series FELL, which was a great idea and a solid seller that just sort of petered out and nothing has been heard of it since, and neither creator has really said WHY. I sincerely hope the same thing does not happen to this series, which I think is a pretty fair hope (particularly as this is being billed as a six-issue series, rather than a series of oneshots). At the very least, this issue will make a very easy recommendation to fans of FELL.

The preview looks good, and reads very modern-age pulp. A bit Ellisy. Should be a popular one on the stands.

Cheers, mate! Here's hoping its popularity lives up to your expectations!

My SUPERMAN story out March 2010!

2009-12-22T13:15:00.002-05:00

I just discovered that my SUPERMAN story has not only been announced, but solicited for release! It ships on March 17th; the same day as CHOKER issue two. Yeah, that's right, St. Patrick's Day. Will I quaff even more pints of Guinness than usual?

Probably.

Check out DC's announcement here: http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=14319

New CHOKER Website Live

2009-12-11T12:52:00.005-05:00

The new CHOKER website is now up and running, and very nice it looks, too. Check it out:

www.chokercomic.com

BTW, five (hilariously censored) pages from issue one grace this month's PREVIEWS. Many thanks to the crew at Image AND Diamond for the sneak peek. The book ships in February, and its order code is: DEC090342

More soon!

Great reviews galore!

2009-10-20T13:27:00.003-04:00

I'm delighted to see the response to the six-page CHOKER preview in Liberty Comics #2 has been so strong -- thanks so much, y'all! The anthology itself has been very well received across the board, too. Here's a few links to reviews:

http://www.ifanboy.com/content/potw/10_14_2009_-_Liberty_Comics__2 (via ifanboy.com)

http://theflickcast.com/2009/10/14/daves-weekly-comic-book-recommendations-19/ (via theflickcast.com)

http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/25737.htm/ (via majorspoilers.com)

I very much hope the response to the mini-series itself will be as good. Issue 2's opening page may just be the zaniest thing you'll read in 2010...

LIBERTY COMICS #2 OUT TODAY!

2009-10-14T11:55:00.004-04:00

Liberty Comics #2 is out today in the US of A (UK & Europe tomorrow) and within you'll find a six-page preview of CHOKER by me and Ben Templesmith. We're in good company, too: Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Cameron Stewart, Dave Gibbons, Jason Aaron and Paul Pope (to name but a few) also feature, and the book benefits the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, making it even more of a worthwhile purchase.

Sorry...

2009-08-06T17:05:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I know. My blog's a little ramshackle at the moment. It'll be fixed and much easier on the eye by the weekend; I'm just swamped 'til then.

Patience, peeps -- www.benmccool.com WILL eventually look the part!

Also: VINES

2009-07-27T19:04:00.002-04:00

Hot on the heels of my CHOKER announcement, I can proudly declare that another project I've been working on, VINES, is in the works and coming your way soon. It's a fast-paced and outlandish action/adventure, wherein a dark twisted jungle has literally overwhelmed New York City. METNAL, the lowest most despicable level of the nine Mayan hells, also rears its sinister head, and the aftermath is unlike anything you'll have ever seen before...

I'm working with the absurdly talented Inaki Miranda (2000AD, DC Minx) and he really is quite something. Check out his blog for samples: http://www.inakieva.com/

Also, check out Soulcraft's website for more of Inaki's work on TRIBES, a book due early next year and published by IDW: http://www.soulcraftcomics.com/main/tribes-the-dog-years/

The book will hit sometime in 2010.

Finally announced: CHOKER

2009-07-25T14:07:00.003-04:00

Like countless other Comic-Con attendees, a wretched Internet connection has stifled my attempts to blog. Much more to follow, but Image Comics yesterday announced CHOKER, a brand new series by me and Ben Templesmith. Here are a few links for starters:

http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/07/24/just-announced-choker/

http://www.templesmith.com/faze3/

As soon as I escape the clutches of San Diego I'll post lots more. Interviews, video, teaser images, script... The works.

Now: back to the Con. Wish me luck...

Ramblings of a Mercenary

2009-07-07T22:54:00.010-04:00

Ah. The Freelance Writer's Lifestyle. An oddball existence if ever there was one. At times, it's, well, downright fucking awesome: you can stay up late if you feel like it, sleep in as a result, and more often than not (in my humble experience) you're left alone to render whatever fiendish oddities your brain concocts into a physical, readable reality. Providing the work is a) turned in (more or less) on time, and b) of sufficient caliber, an editor will likely dispense less flack than a "regular" boss' daily dose of diabolical dross.

Obligatory downsides do surface--short, sudden deadlines & missing/late/non-existent pay cheques principal candidates--and these are Things You Just Have To Deal With. They'll drive you batshit crazy (and boy, will they) but they're far less soul-destroying than the alternative; having worked for years as a store clerk, I had a regular (well, monthly) payday and a homogeneous, almost templated working week. The tedium wasn't the primary annoyance; rather, the Standing Around Doing Nothing for most of my eight-hour shift was the paramount irk. This, I used to tell myself, should be writing time. Productive gratification through craft. I made this my major inspiration to get the fuck out of dayjobsville; it eventually worked.

(Most of the dissatisfaction I experienced working shitty deadend jobs was my own fault, granted; my lack of enthusiasm in seeking out decent daily grind landed myself in this situation, which in turn inspired me to push my writing harder than ever. Y'know, what goes around comes around and all that.)

I guess this random brain spillage is a self-reminder of how I shouldn't take this shit for granted. Whenever things aren't going so well I should revisit this and remind myself of hateful customers, Shit Things That Need Selling and hours spent staring into space, musing about alternative realms of vocation. And then, when I'm done, I'll make up another story about a mutant chain-smoking gumshoe with an advanced case of Alien Hand Syndrome.

Hey, that reminds me...

"My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it." --Abraham Lincoln

"Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun." --Colleen C. Barrett

San Diego Comic-Con

2009-07-01T18:25:00.007-04:00

Hard to believe, but it's almost that time. San Diego Comic-Con time. Its imminent presence looms over the industry like a dark cloud, bringing with it colossal workloads, frantic preparations and a collective sense of doom. I've attended consecutive shows since 2003, making this my seventh appearance. Yet I'm still a relative rookie; many people I know--the missus included--are such long-standing fixtures they're almost part of the furniture. But with each passing year I tell myself the same thing: the con can't possibly get any crazier next year. Like, no fucking way.

Yet it does. Each and every time.

I'll never forget 2003's visit, which, coincidentally, was my first ever US show. Humble (by comparison) UK conventions were my only frame of reference, along with various 'dude! It's fucking nuts!'-type warnings. It certainly didn't disappoint; inundations of cool shit, four-and-a-half days of non-stop activity, plus more people to drink with than a liver's filtering function can handle. Sure, it *was* crazy, but the good vibe, social engagements and plethora of Stuff Going On made everything worthwhile. I had a blast. 2004 came around, and lo and behold, more fun was had. But it somehow seemed unlike what I'd experienced previously; after only one year's experience, the atmosphere was... different. More video games? More movie stuff? More TV? Sure, I guess all three were more prominently represented. But the vibe on the con floor was also dissimilar. There were notably more people, too. Often it was uncomfortable, claustrophobic, pulsating with a different kind of ambiance; really fucking intense, basically. 2005 offered more high octane insanity (the first show where comics really took the backseat, if not '04) and each year has upped the brain-devouring ante since. 2008 left me--as well as about 130,000 other people--clinging to my sanity, the Midsummer Mindfuck having dished out beyond even its own lofty levels of punishment.

Don't get me wrong, I still really dig the show. Crazy, yeah, I know. But there's something about it that compels me to attend each year; something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's the people. Perhaps the elaborate array of Cool Shit available to buy, look at, and/or poke. Might even be the town itself. Whatever the reason, it's a prerequisite fixture for me now, and dare I say it, I'm looking forward to this year's Big Event. Of course, come Sunday afternoon, there'll only be one thought on my mind:

The con can't possibly get any crazier next year. Like, no fucking way.

And deep down, I know I'll be wrong...

Declaration

2009-06-22T15:31:00.001-04:00

I now dub thee, San Diego Comic-Con, THE MIDSUMMER MINDFUCK.

Just 'cause, y'know, it really is.

It's been a while...

2009-06-22T14:35:00.007-04:00

Yeah, I know. I haven't updated this bleedin' thing in AGES. Since I last updated I've been pretty darn busy (a 3-week trip to England dominating much of it) though I PROMISE to keep the momentum going from here on out.

I'll have some very hot news to declare in the next month or so, as I've not one but TWO new books announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Trust me: they're both going to be very fucking cool. And for very different reasons.

I'll be back with more soon. Now, back to this devilishly diabolical script...

"The only thing worse than seeing a bad movie is being in one." --Elvis Presley

"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people." --Orson Welles

Priceless

2009-05-06T00:45:00.003-04:00

I've not had time to write much on here lately, but I'll have some cool work-related news to discuss soon. Very much looking forward to announcing it, will post details as soon as I can.

In the meantime, here's a blog I've been enjoying lately...scroll down to the News Anchor Fail clip to get started. Hiiiiiilarious...

http://failblog.org/

Hear me ramble

2009-04-29T18:45:00.003-04:00

Last night I recorded a podcast along with Heidi MacDonald (aka The Missus) for the fine folks at Comic News Insider. Amongst other things, we contemplate Twitter, Robert Rodriguez's PREDATOR reboot, and Wolverine Nike's. Possibly as outlandish as it sounds, and you can download the discussion for free here:

http://jimmyaquino.typepad.com/comicnewsinsider/2009/04/episode-194-heidi-macdonald-ben-mccool-in-twitter-wars.html

It starts here...

2009-04-24T14:29:00.005-04:00

...the summer, that is.

After another sensationally busy week (this one more diabolical and bad news-bearing than most) it looks as if a bakingly hot and sun-drenched weekend is upon us. 85 flippin' degrees Saturday AND Sunday? Crikey. Best dig out my factor 8000 sun block.

Another big (and very obvious) differential between ol' Blighty and the USA is the weather. Of course, with America being so big a broad spectrum of climate is a prerequisite, though the intensity is what surprises me most: NYC in the middle of August is a humid cauldron of Hades, and these conditions are about as non-Ben-friendly as can be. The same month in Florida I hear is unbearable. The winter, by contrast, can be formidably cold and equally unpleasant in most parts of the country. We spent Christmas up in Maine, blanketed by snow, feeling as seasonal as can be. It was also bloody cold (7 degrees Fahrenheit when we arrived; about -14 Celsius) but far less excruciating than the four or so months I'm now staring in the face. Air Conditioning unit: get set to be my saviour.

In a nutshell, it highlights how much of a wuss I am when it comes to temperatures most Americans think nothing of; these guys are absolutely used to it. Sure, it rains a lot in England, and it can get a little cold in winter. It might even feel slightly oppressive in the summer. For like a day. But it's generally very tepid condition-wise, and it's not until a pasty little (big) British white boy like me is taken out of his natural environment that reality sets in.

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart" --Celia Thaxter

"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance" --Jane Austen

Bonkers

2009-04-17T14:25:00.004-04:00

What a mental week. I'll be glad to put its mass array of nonsense and bollocks to bed, preferably before 6pm.

I'll be writing more next week; in the meantime, check out the original proposal for THE WIRE, as pitched to HBO by creator David Simon. Dave Press posted this a few days ago; a truly majestic find.

Fascinating reading ahoy, especially for fellow writers: http://www.mediafire.com/?ecny2wmy1h3

However did we cope?

2009-04-14T17:22:00.002-04:00

Our Internet connection decided to perish on Sunday evening. We got things back up and running today (a big outage fried our original modem) less than 48 hours after going down. No big deal, you'd like to think. Except that it was. A frightfully big deal.

I first started using the Internet (on a regular basis) back in 1998, and considered it a luxury; a non-essential supplement to home-based entertainment. I started using it more as time went by, finding more and more uses as technology improved and cost of usage decreased. Now it's downright indispensable; everything I do evolves around it. Less than two days without it at home caused pandemonium: I was in and out of cafes/friend's homes taking advantage of Wi-Fi connections, and in between trying to reply to as much email as I could using my iPhone's 3G connection. I fell horribly behind with EVERYTHING and I'm only now (virtually) all caught-up. Heidi also suffered: Sunday night's epic BEAT write-up was impossible, and Monday's installment was also severely hindered. We felt so helpless... So fundamentally flaccid.

It's quite scary how technological dependency controls our lives; however did we cope before it got so out of control? Trying to arrange a birthday party without the aid of the Internet (or at least mobile phones) is unthinkable, yet people pre-2000 thought nothing of it. How did it get so bad? How did we become so pathetically dependant? And could it possibly get any worse?

Tragically, I think the answer is a resounding YES.

Watch this technologically-fueled space...

"If at first you don’t succeed; call it version 1.0" –-unknown

Microsoft: “You’ve got questions. We’ve got dancing paperclips.” -–unknown

Sheesh

2009-04-10T11:55:00.009-04:00

The past few days have been a whirlwind. Hell, the past MONTH has been a whirlwind. Nothing supremely exciting going on; rather, a flurry of deadlines. But is it *really* the 10th of April? Is San Diego Comic-Con only three (and a little bit) months away? How on earth can it be so close?

I've undergone many lifestyle changes since moving to America; sustaining myself solely with my writing the most drastic adjustment. Each day is in stark contrast to my routine back in England, and a result, time is flying by.

Speaking of which, I'm heading back home for a visit next month, the first time I've been back since last February. I can't wait. It's been so long since I saw my family and friends, but doesn't feel like it at all; hell, it's as if I've barely been away. But that first Shepherd's Pie and pint of Fuller's London Pride can't come soon enough...

Meanwhile, I'm back at the gym. The winter beer blubber must be shed, and all-round physical fitness improved. I've always had a day job to keep me active; sitting in front of a computer all day reaks havoc on the waistline, as well as energy levels. How the hell do you veteran artists and writers do it and NOT look like a beachball with ears?! Please, fill me in on the secret. I'm fed up with feeling like I've eaten every other fat bloke in NYC, and 20 lbs must be shed by Comic-Con!

The New York Mets' start to the '09 season has been intriguing, and as ever, nothing is straightforward. Johan Santana and the newly revamped bullpen provided a comfortable 2-1 victory on Monday; Mike Pelfrey started game two in horrendous fashion, giving up four runs in the first inning, but settled down and worked through to the end of inning five. The bullpen, working 6 through 9, decided to "do an '08" and give up hits and walks galore, nearly inducing cardiac arrest. But they rallied and battled out the win; a game we'd doubtless have lost last year. And then yesterday the enigmatic Oliver Perez offered up a diabolical performance, resulting in the first loss. He started flawlessly, pitching two perfect innings. The offence then handed him a 3-run lead, and all looked rosy. I should've known better. He walked the first two batters of the 3rd, and after one of them made it home, his co-walker (along with a further BB beneficiary) scored via a huge 3-run homer. So 4-3 to Cincinnati now, and it only got worse. Perez worked less than five innings, giving up 8 earned runs, and the offence failed to catch up.

The left-hander has just picked up a 3-year, $36 million contract, yet he's the most inconsistent, incredibly frustrating athlete I've ever encountered in ANY sport. A true nightmare. And with the injury-prone John Maine and veteran Livian Hernandez making up the rest of the Mets' rotation, the team's achilles heal could switch from the bullpen to rotation in '09.

Interestingly, Oliver Perez was only (re)signed by the Mets due to failing to land Derek Lowe; he wanted a 4-year deal, we only offered 3, so he went to Atlanta instead. Naturally, his first start as a Brave was majestic. He's likely to win 18 games this year, maybe more. Picking up Ollie instead could prove to be the worst piece of business conducted by the Amazin's since sending Nolan Ryan to the Angels. I can only hope that the consequences aren't so severe.

Have a top-notch weekend, y'all.

And speaking of baseball-

2009-04-07T20:34:00.004-04:00

-I feel plundered with delirium. Bludgeoned by joy. Clobbered with glee, even. Why? Heh. It's quite lame, actually.

Baseball.

As a comparative nerd--working within jurisdiction of comic books AND related media--this is unusual. As an Englishman, even more so. I've always been partial to sports; as unnatural a marriage as comic scripting and ESPN is, it works wonders for me. I like to write for at least four hours a day (an incredibly lightweight workload for a full-timer, I know) but optimum output occurs somewhere around the eight-hour mark. After this, nothing serves up better respite than nine innings of 'ball. Soccer (football, I should say) is, and always will be, my favourite sport. It was my first true love in life, alongside literature. But these days, I find the experience almost as stressful as the preceding day's work; I'm emotionally bonded to the point of frenzy. But baseball...a different story. Possibly the most jovial discovery of my adult (non-work-related) life. Its pacing, its history, its all-round constituent... It just works wonders for me. The last two Septembers aside, at least.

My choice of team often bemuses Americans, even more so than my appreciation of the sport itself: NEW. YORK. METS. All the way. No other team held even a modicum of temptation; I was sold immediately. Self-abusing and sadistic, yeah, I know. But I liken the Amazin's history to American history in general: short, but fascinating. I respect the Yankees; how could you not? They are, essentially, baseball's flagship franchise. I hold their legacy AND accomplishments in very high regard. But they just seem too... Obvious. The equivalent would be an American moving to England, oblivious of the Premier League and its teams, and choosing Manchester United as a team to root for; success is nigh on guaranteed, heartbreak an unlikely outcome to a season's pursuit of celebration. I like the idea of a "maybe" team, teetering on the fringes of possibility: as much a potential heart-breaker as a could-be jubilant year-maker. To me, this is what sport is all about: the wondrous "what if...?" realm of opportunity.

The New York Mets are the only team in baseball history to go Worst To First: they finished the 1968 season in last place, then won the World Series in 1969, the game's loftiest accolade. This year, they've done it again, but in a different guise: 2008's squad boasted the worst relief pitching rotation in MLB, inflicting 29 blown saves, and as a result, a missed play-off spot. This year, however, they've acquired two of the best game's relievers--JJ Putz and Francisco Rodriguez--who will work the 8th and 9th innings respectively. And with a quality back-ups Sean Green, Pedro Feliciano and Bobby Parnell offering additional support, it looks like the Mets are set.

In the words of K-Rod, the $36 million closer, 'the Mets might not win this year. But if they don't, it won't be because of the bullpen.'

I was going to blog about yesterday's game, but in light of this unprecedented (and lengthy) deliberation, I'll save it for tomorrow's outing: Mike Pelfrey vs. Edinson Volquez. I'm confident; Mike had a solid season last year, and Spring Training offered no hints of a come-down. But this is baseball, and everything could go topsy-turvy real fast.

As a Mets fan, believe me, I know.

"It's no fun playing if you don't make somebody else unhappy." --Hank Bauer

Oh Good God

2009-04-07T20:00:00.003-04:00

American Idol just started. The frantic rush to salvation (as in, the remote) induced spilling of beverage over my Mac Powerbook. Laptop seems to be OK; good job, too, as destruction via puerile TV would likely result in a clock tower/assault rifle/hapless victims-based scenario.

To concoct a worthwhile crux out of this near-disaster, American TV is fascinating. At its best, it's unbeatable; instances where networks allow for quality, innovative creation result in elite output. But when it's BAD... Sheesh. The contrast is amongst the widest chasms known to mankind; only a New York Mets circa 1962 vs. New York Mets circa 1969 match-up offers disparity of such biblical proportion.

LOST is on tomorrow night. Most likely, all will be forgiven re: cranial sabotage by way of mainstream entertainment. We'll see.

"Being with a woman all night never hurt no professional baseball player. It's staying up all night looking for a woman that does him in." --Casey Stengel

Oh, and-

2009-04-07T02:06:00.006-04:00

-I'm on Twitter. I, er, tweet there. Concentrated installments of pontification at: www.twitter.com/benmccool

"I would have made a good Pope." --Richard Nixon

Welcome

2009-04-07T01:17:00.006-04:00

It had to happen eventually. And earlier today, it did: I crafted the scanty beginnings of a fully-fledged blog.

I'll be using it as an outpost for all sorts of literary misdemeanor, including, but not restricted to: comic books; baseball; cinematic oddities; spicy food-induced nightmares; the freakishly dog-faced delinquent living next door; and of course, the life and times of a writer living in Manhattan, three-and-a-half thousand miles away from his original dwelling. It's fun here. It's crazy, too. It's the kind of place that helps cultivate you into something you always wanted to be, but only if you play by its rules and learn from its lessons.

The Wheelhouse is go. 'Til next time-

--Ben

"Suddenly he spoke to a cat. Winter filled the room. They could see the ocean." --Jason

"Come out or I'll fire recklessly." --cop in appallingly-translated HK Cat-III flick Underground Taxi Hunter