News

In case you forgot, this is my week "off" from updating the comic. I need a few days to step back and recharge after the year-long tale of The March Across Maltak. I'll still be putting things up this week, but it just won't be new Dominic Deegan comics.
What will it be for the next few days?
You'll have to come back every day and find out!

Today are a few sketches I did of some elusive denizens of the Wild Edge Territories. You may recognize Bort at the top there. I've been kicking around some ideas in my head for awhile now and I've begun setting things in motion for starting up a second webcomic set in The Wild Edge. Keep an eye out for more information as things develop.

Last week, as The March Across Maltak came to a close, I asked for your feedback and critiques regarding the story as a whole. So many of you sent me your feedback and, as of this writing, I'm still reading through everything that was sent to me. Even if I don't reply to your e-mail (shocking, I know) rest assured that each and every critique sent my way will be read.

Your collective feedback has really run the gamut from "it was the best story you've written" to "this was the worst story you've written." I'm flattered by what you all thought I did well and I appreciate your criticisms as to what could have been done better. While I'll take all of this feedback into consideration for the next time I do a big, ambitious storyline... I have no intentions to do a story of that size again any time in the conceivable future.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

That's it.

The End.

The March Across Maltak has finally come to its conclusion and I, for one, am very happy with the journey as a whole.

I don't know if it's the best story I've written. I'd rather leave that judgment to you, my awesome readers. It was certainly the longest story I've told and one that I was incredibly invested in. It's almost hard to believe that since January of 2009 I've been telling you folks the same tale. It's almost hard to believe that you're all still with me one year later. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

Now that the story has officially concluded and the work can be looked upon from beginning to end, let me know what you thought of it. What I did well, what I did poorly, what could have been done better and what you really enjoyed. This was an ambitious storyline for me and I want to know how you all thought I did.

I'm going to be selfish, however, and take next week off from the comic. Like I said, I was incredibly invested in this story and seeing it through to its end has somewhat drained me creatively. I need a week to step away and "recollect myself," so to speak. I think this little breather will help me "recharge" and be ready to tell the next story here, which I promise will be shorter and lighthearted.

Be sure to come back next week, though. There may not be new comics updating, but there will be things to look at.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on, and have a great weekend!

I think that's enough self-affirmation for one storyline, satisfying as it was to write this for Luna. It's also the penultimate strip for The March Across Maltak. Tomorrow is the big wrap-up. Don't expect any more twists or revelations. I think we've had enough of those for one storyline, too.

Lots of good comic books came out yesterday, too. I'll talk about the ones that especially stood out for me.

Another of the Blackest Night tie-ins that I was really looking forward to came out, namely The Atom and Hawkman. I adore Hawkman & Hawkgirl so it continues to pain me to see them as black lanterns, but it's also good to see them in the spotlight, even just a little. Most of the focus was on The Atom, who I like more and more with every appearance. This was a great one-shot with a hopeful hero and an even more hopeful ending.

The newest Superman: Secret Origin was equally satisfying. Gary Frank's artwork captures the Man of Steel almost perfectly, especially when Jimmy Olsen's first photograph of Superman is revealed. Picture perfect. I also love it when Superman is written well. No one I know who's a fan of Superman likes him because he's invincible or super-strong. Fans of Superman like him because of his heart, compassion and selflessness, and this series showcases that wonderfully.

I remain undecided about Justice League of America: Cry For Justice. The artwork is spectacular, but it really should have been called JLA: Watch Prometheus Be An Unstoppable Prick. This series seems more like a showcase for him than for the Justice League. And if anyone can explain to me half of what Prometheus did to the JLA this month, you deserve some kind of science award.

I am totally eating up the entire Realm of Kings storyline, as showcased this week in the latest issue of Guardians of the Galaxy. Fast-paced and fun with high cosmic adventure and a very "strategic" talking raccoon make this one of my favorite reads. And what a cliffhanger!

That's all from me for now.
Rock on and geek out!

Getting today's comic just right was incredibly important for numerous reasons. I wanted to showcase how strong Luna has become without trivializing her infertility. It's not something to be taken lightly and I want to treat the subject with respect.

I'm happy with her in today's strip and hope you folks are, too. Those of you who weren't happy with the price she had to pay certainly let me know it yesterday. I was originally going to make a punchline out of a particularly angry statement someone had e-mailed me, but I opted not to go for a funny comic today. Shame, too. It was a funny remark in an otherwise outraged e-mail.

Every writer will tell you that, after a while, your characters write themselves. That's not totally the case with me, as I often struggle with dialogue and getting it just right. Instead my characters let me know when the time is right for them to say certain things.

Today, after many years of writing Luna's development, was the right time for her to shrug off potentially self-esteem shattering news and focus on all the good she's accomplished. It was almost revelatory for me to write her dialogue and say to myself, "Yeah, she'd totally say that. She's strong enough now."

And here's just a tiny spoiler for you folks, since you've been with me for this long journey and through this year-long storyline.

The dragon said she'd never be pregnant.
He didn't say she'd never be a mother.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

Is this a little too cruel? Maybe.

Truth be told it was a little difficult to commit to the "price" of Maltak's rebirth for Luna, effectively dashing the hopes some people have had for seeing little one-tusked Deegan babies running around. I was kinda looking forward to it myself.

In other news... well... there really isn't any other news. Which is good. No news is good news. So hooray! I guess I can share some off-topic and fun stuff with you fine folks, then!

You will either find First Person Tetris amazing or it will make you ill.

Planetoid. Science-fiction rock and roll brought to us by evil time-lost intergalactic abominations? Metal.

It's taking a great deal of willpower for me not to run out today and buy Mass Effect 2. Whether it has anything to do with me forgetting to pre-order a copy isn't the issue here. This is an exercise in willpower. I'm hoping people will be able to see my green aura all the way out in Oa.

I swear, sometimes it's a wonder that I have a girlfriend at all.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

It probably isn't helping moving things along by making today's comic a giant one-panel update, but this dragon's appearances always demand a big showcase. He's huge, after all.

I also like the affinity for lounging he seems to have. Every appearance he's made in Luna's visions since coming to Maltak have been, well, relaxed. I used to draw this dragon all upright and imposing, with his draconic arms crossed and such, but I think I'll be sticking with these in the future. It's just more amusing to me.

Last but not least, I'm going to get a little "religious" on you folks for a second.

I have been vigorously praying to the metal gods for a boon because a lady with a heart and spirit made of steel is in need of their blessing. She is the most resilient, brave and high-spirited woman I've ever met. Period.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

I decided to leave things off on somewhat of a cliffhanger for the weekend, although it's not much of one if your memory is good and you remember the last time something like this happened to Luna.

Otherwise, it looks like the next week or so will finally bring The March Across Maltak to a close. Looks like it'll have taken a year to tell the whole tale. I wanted to have it done by the end of 2009, but finishing it off in January of 2010 is close enough for me.

I'm sure I'll talk more about the story as a whole once it's over... as if you folks haven't heard enough of me talking about my own work for the past eight years.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on and have a nice weekend.

Today I'm talking the comics that I picked up yesterday. There were a lot of them, so I'm only going to mention the ones that really stuck out to me... good or bad.

I've been giving Thunderbolts the benefit of the doubt since Warren Ellis ended his spectacular run and they completely changed the team I picked up the title to read. At the climax of this latest issue, with one of the only members of the new team I actually liked getting killed off like a chump, I'm dropping this disappointing title. Maybe I'll pick it up again if Songbird returns to the team.

The Brave & The Bold continues to impress me with its single-issue stories of unlikely superhero team-ups. I wouldn't call this month's duo of The Atom and The Joker a "team up," but it was a great read with the usual stellar writing from Straczynski.

Green Lantern Corps have a planet on their side. A planet. Wow.

Deathlok the Demolisher continues to be as violent, disturbing and awesome as he deserves to be. Well, it's more like the world around him is irrevocably messed up and he's just a product of that... only with insane ordnance and, um, more ordnance. I grew up with a much friendlier version of this strange "hero," but I think I like this version better.

Power Girl is, without a doubt, quickly becoming one of my favorite monthly titles. Jimmy Palmiotti's witty, fast and fun paced writing is a perfect match with Amanda Conner's charming artwork. With most superhero comics being so dark and dreary nowadays it's nice to read something a little more light-hearted and... dare I say... FUN?! Also, the little mad scientist badger reminded me of me.

I know she's probably fine... but did they really just kill She-Hulk in a six page BACKUP story in the newest Incredible Hulk? Apparently the only way to put over yet another Red Hulk as a "bad-ass villain" is to strangle She-Hulk. Again.

I enjoy everything relating to the Realm of Kings storyarc. I'm not a huge fan of Marvel, but their cosmic-themed stuff is really cooking these days.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on and geek out!

Here are some more interesting little tidbits and factoids about today's comic, since I enjoyed doing that so much yesterday.

- An alternate exchange between Thuen Gor and Loru Kal was going to go as follows, but Mel Brooks beat me to it:
"Do you care if it falls?"
"What?"
"The Roman Empire."
"F*ck it."
"Hee hee hee!"

- I originally thought the reveal of Adrak's "restoration" came out too corny (and maybe it still did), but ultimately I came around to it. The poor guy's spent the whole storyline covered in disgusting warts, taking the injuries of others onto himself (which certainly didn't help) and missing most of his teeth. I figured he earned the chance to look a little suave. Besides, I inexplicably like the smaller version of his father's beard he's sporting.

- I came up with a few alternate ideas for endings to today's strip, all of which included Loru Kal being the comic relief. In the end, I thought it would be better that he just sit and enjoy the moment in silence.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

There are a few things worth mentioning about today's comic:

- It's official. Having some kind of scarf-like apparel in this world means you're a bad-ass. It's like seeing a squire in a fantasy movie finally get a cape.

- All the hair dye and facial markings/tatoos washed off when Luna called the rain. That's why Melna, Hirek and Suyan look so different. Grench's hair is different, too, but apparently I use the same lines to fill in brown hair as I do for pink hair. Curse this black and white medium!

- If you say Thuen Gor's line as Mel Brooks playing the Emperor in "History of the World Part 1," it becomes a lot funnier.

- I think Loru Kal, former chief of the Rhazgala, may have come out of this whole ordeal better than anyone. Lucky old stoner.

- I'm totally getting up early today to vote in Special Election Day here in Massachusetts. That's got nothing to do with the comic at all. I'm just getting more political as I get older.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

I was trying to come up with some colorful insight to today's comic or an interesting bit of news to share with you all today, but the truth of the matter is this...

Nothing interesting happened to me all weekend.

Nothing.

Nothing. At. All.

I could tell you that I hung out with a friend of mine and she helped me play video games, or that I had a delicious new kind of vegan pizza, or that I found a brand of beer at my local liquor store that I'd been waiting for them to restock, but all of that is so mundane that I don't find it terribly newsworthy.

Yep. Pretty uneventful weekend, as it were.

Man, when my girlfriend goes away for a couple of days and leaves me alone I turn into the most uninteresting nerd in the world.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

I figured I would leave this week off on a warm, fuzzy note. Mostly. Lots of cuddling and reuniting in the first four panels, but the last four aren't nearly as chipper. Is it symbolic? Ominous? A sign of things to come for these orcs of Maltak? We shall see.

Other than that, I'd say today is a pretty slow news day. It's been that way most of this week, and that's always nice. I'm subscribe to the "no news is good news" school of thought and bless those pleasantly uneventful days that come and go without giving you much trouble.

I'd say the new year is off to a nice start.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on, and have a nice weekend!

I could've taken this in a serious direction, but I just really needed a laugh.

Kiya's had an outburst like this before and violently horny women are comedy gold, especially if it's one with tusks and a penchant for beating elemental abominations to death with a stick.

For those interested, I posted some more of my very amateur photography for your viewing pleasure.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

I may not like having a body count by the end of these epic storylines, but I do make certain there are significant changes for the characters who have made these long journeys. This is Reinholdt's significant change and new beginning.

I've liked the idea of vigilant guardians at holy sites ever since I watched Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade as a kid. Sometimes I do an old man voice and say, "You have chosen... wisely." when someone I know does something smart. From there it led to countless examples of the vigilant guardian and I've always wanted to include one here in the comic. Rather than introduce a new member of the cast, I put an existing one through the ringer. I like doing that.

What significant changes await other members of this journey have yet to be seen...

That's all from me for now.
Rock on.

It's true. Hukthak was right.

I've been waiting to drop this little revelation for about a year now. On the grand scale of things it's pretty insignificant, but it's just the sort of ridiculous thing Donovan would do. He even gave us a little "wink" at the beginning of the story after giving an example of his bad orcish.

As for his "old saying" today, that's a Vincent van Gogh quote I just slightly modified. I was originally going to make it an inspirational quote for orcs in the vein of, "you've got a second chance, so stop whining and get off your ass to do something with it!" but the reaction ended up looking more shocked at the forwardness of the statement than the fact that he just spoke perfect orcish. Something poetic seemed more fitting, since he really had been speaking nothing but gibberish up until today.

But just because he's been doing it on purpose this whole time doesn't mean that he's going to stop doing it any time soon. That Python-esque dialogue is too fun to write.

That's all from me for now.
Rock on!