As many of you know, the Flight series of comics anthologies has been an inspiration to me over the past few years. On his blog recently, editor Kazu Kibuishi announced that the series will wrap up in the next couple of years with Flight 8. He goes on to say that the purpose of the anthology was really to act as a launching pad for him and several of his friends fresh out of school, and that the group’s focus will now be to create their own graphic novels now that they’ve all made names for themselves. So, mission accomplished. The series has served its purpose, Flight will end, but it will be exciting for me to see what they all do next. I’m just sad I never got my chance to participate in one of the Flight anthologies. I always thought my work fit right in.

Kazu did tell me that he has plans to continue the Flight Explorer series, the all-ages variant of Flight, which will now be called simply “Explorer” and will forgo the  sometimes more mature and darker content of its parent anthology. My kids love Explorer, and I’m anxious to see what new stories find their way to that series. Some of my favorites have wound up there so far – Kazu’s Copper, and Jake Parker’s Missile Mouse. Both of these have books out, so I guess that’s sort of what Kazu was alluding to – Flight and Explorer have indeed been a career boost to the artists lucky enough to have been a part of them.

Meanwhile, for those of you who crave more excellent anthology sweetness, check out Birdsong/Songbird. Looks like a new generation of talented artists is making a name for themselves. As for WishTales – Tom and I had a secret dream for the past couple of years to put together an anthology that could take its place alongside Flight, and we were planning to develop it under the WishTales banner. But seeing some of these really fantastic anthologies, Birdsong and Out of Picture most notable among them, I am forced to admit that the space is getting crowded with some really flashy product. So flashy, in fact, that I think we’d better leave the flashy anthology creation up to those talented folks, while Tom and I focus on creating more stories for the WishTales products you already know and love.

But those anthologies sure are good news for readers; it’s like a graphic novel candy store!

There’s a very positive review of Moon Town at Tall Tale Features. If you’re not familiar with TTF, it’s a collective of extremely talented big time cartoonists. Their positive take on my little comic is very humbling! Thanks, guys!

Croaker’s Gorge #2 is online, and the guys are feeling stuck in a rut!

After a month or so of sneaking in drawings here and there, I’ve finally completed Rag the Viking! Even though I did the drawing and produced the comic, It’s really a collaboration between myself and Steve – so it’s really our first official Wishtales comic. Steve had the basic idea, from which I wrote the full script. He also had the original Rag design, too. You can see Steve’s original character drawings and direction for me at the Rag page.

The minicomic was made to have available at our SPACE table come April. But I will be making it available to those of you who would like a copy. The cost will be small, probably $2.00 (plus shipping – which should be cheap, it’s small and light.)

All that is left is for me to produce them. I have to make a few small tweaks to the final images, then have them run off and cut and staple them all together. Once they are ready, I’ll put them on the store page.

Rag the Viking is the story of a typical office man who has dreams beyond his mundane daily experience.

Man how time flies… just getting to mention it here for those who haven’t found it yet – a reboot of sorts for Croaker’s Gorge… you can read the first of, uh, many to come at the Croaker’s Gorge website.

WishTales will also be putting out a small Croaker’s Gorge collection in a few weeks, so stay tuned for more info on that. You heard it here first.

I’ve made some progress on my Rag the Viking minicomic this weekend. As usual Steve has been helpful in helping me spotting blacks. Here’s a little preview panel for you. I’m closing in on the halfway point, I should have no problem finishing this for SPACE this April.

Brock Heasley has done up this really groovy promo teaser for his upcoming season of SuperFogeys. Click the image for a bigger version, and of course check out SuperFogeys.com for the latest and also greatest SuperFogeys information.

AMC is running an interesting graphic novel at their site in support of their show The Prisoner. The motion graphics display one panel at a time of the ongoing graphic novel, and there are some neat effects. It borders on animated film, but doesn’t quite get there. I think addition of some environmental sounds would make this a more complete experience. As it is, the sounds of pages turning is charming and warm, but just misses the mark. Still, got me to read it and blog about it, so obviously it’s doing its job.

What do you think about it? Did the motion graphics add to or detract from the experience of reading this comic? Would a more complete soundscape have helped?