I assume that you know about the Free Steam Crow Giveaway, over at the SuperPunch blog?

Contest ends Friday, July 17th at 8:00 pm Pacific Time, so go win some swag. You just need to leave a comment.

No purchase necessary. Go win!

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Dawna and I have been rushing to finish up everything for the SDCC trip. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:

• I designed a dozen new buttons
• We’ve stamped out 2000 (!) buttons with the help of Dirk and Jenni – family+friends
• Reorganized the button display and storage. 79 buttons/pins are now available.
• I’ve designed a bunch of new prints – Mostly big prints, and some mini’s too. 3 new Wonderful Wizard of OZ prints, for some reason.
• I designed the Battletown t-shirt. It’s ready for the show.
• I designed and submitted (and got approved) our SDCC exclusive print
• We’ve set up the display in the living room, and we’re making adjustments to it
• I’ve added some lights to the display as well. They should work out.
• We’ve designed and ordered an ONI ONI Mart tote. Should be here today.
• Ordered 5000 new cards. They may/may not arrive in time from Hong Kong.
• I’ve made a 5-6 Magic Ticket items; I still need to frame them though.
• Dawna is in the process of making MNSTR Bags. Purple, Blue, White, Black are mostly done. Still need to hit brown, red, and tan. She can hand-finish about 2 per day. Hard work.
• I’ve sent press releases to about 25 sites. We’ve been picked up in about 4.
• I’ve been working hard to communicate to YOU, our patrons, about what we’ve been doing.
• Designed 2 stencils for some canvas military/art bags. Only 2 bags are done. Will try to do more.
• Found a solution for our mini-prints, though it’s kinda overkill for the number of minis that we offer. I’m trying to make a few more designs to bulk it up.

So, a lot is done, but we’ve got an awful lot more to do. It’s like the last mile in a marathon… this is the stuff that matters.

Luckily, we started the run in April.

- Daniel

Sometimes when I get busy, I get all into what I’m doing, and I forget to eat.

I know, it doesn’t really show on my hefty frame, but I’d bet that you’ve done the same thing yourself from time to time.

Today I went to the doctor and had a fluoroscopy, which is apparently “an x-ray in motion” so that they could see my guts, and what’s going on with my throat. The idea here is to see mechanically what’s happening when I swallow.

The Doctor handed me a paper cup, which was filled with the heaviest liquid I’d ever held; barium. You know, from the periodic table. Barium = Ba. It’s heavy, and chalky, and thick, and really one of the worst flavors I’ve ever experienced. I had to really concentrate to not throw up with each gulp.

So, I had to swallow and drink and sip this strawberry flavored barium, and I just wasn’t so hungry because it weighed a ton in my stomach.

So, now it’s not even 5:00 yet, and I find my stomach is done with the barium, and is ready for some good non-chalk or metal-based foods. You know, something with nutritional value.

I support this notion.

I also support not getting x-rayed in the next 15 years again.

Over and out!

- Daniel

If you were ever wondering what the vehicle designs would look like in a Monster Commute movie, I think that they might look a little like this Scripts V8 motorcycle:

It’s big, it’s red, and it’s pretty damn desielpunk if I do sayso myself. I’d add a few spikes and maybe some rivots to hold down the armor plating, and we’d have ourselves some sweet monsterpunk action!

Have you ever seen a real vehicle design that looks like it would fit in Monster Commute?

- Daniel

Old Number Four, a steampunk tractor:

I saw a lot of tractors like this growing up, as my step-father is a part-time farmer, and I’d end up at fairs, tractor stores, and collectors farms who were into steam power.

I’m pretty sure that was the first thing that whetted my appetite for steampunkery, and I always liked that the wheels were made out of iron.

- Daniel

Tonight is preview night at the San Diego Comic-Con. I hope that maybe you met us in person there, and are checking out our site. We’re at booth #4207 in case you need it.

If you’re a regular reader I offer you this steampunk tank as a small reward:

I like how very chunky this tank is. It looks pretty little too. I have no idea what era it is, but I’d have to guess that it’s a WWI machine.

I’ve been collecting these images for the last few years before starting Monster Commute as both reference and inspiration.

I hope you might see just a little CrowBot when you look at this tank.

- Daniel

Hopefully this strip goes live on Thursday, while we’re at the San Diego Comic-Con. By now, Dawna and I are likely fairly exhausted and I’m pretty sure that my feet hurt. This year, I’m not planning on walking around so much.

To continue on the steampunk inspiration that we’re doing here this week…

Here’s another mini-tank, with some fit looking soldiers for scale. I like how that one fella has hair that looks a little like a hat. I’m baldy, so I pay attention to hair. Nice boots, too.

I have a feeling that my car is longer than this tank. Now, if they’d only combine a tank with a hearse, I’d be happy.

- Daniel

To celebrate SDCC, I thought that I’d share the exclusive print that we’re selling at our booth (#4207) this year. I illustrated this in May, which shows how far ahead one has to plan for such things.

This is the first time that we’ve ever done an exclusive print at the Comic-Con, and while I’m really proud of the image, I was hoping that the official convention site might just put it on their own website. (I often suffer from this foul optimism.) This kind of exposure can make a world of difference for small creators, and I’d recommend convention organizers to spend the extra effort to make that happen.

Unfortunately for the San Diego Comic-Con, that didn’t happen.

Looks like only the 29 largest companies got picked up, leaving us indie folks scrambling to get the word out. And to be perfectly fair, this is our job anyway, though I was hoping for a little help on their end.

It’s hardly a surprise, but a good lesson for the future. (Don’t count on much help. Get the art done early so that one has months to advertise.)

Comic stream picking up again on Monday, oh yeah!

- Daniel!

Yes, I would drive this.

Yes, it looks about 83% Monster Commute. A solid “B” effort.

Yes, I believe that it’s perfectly fine to paint a spooky skull on the front of your vehicle.

And yes, it reminds me of the car from the end of the Animal House movie.

- Daniel

Indeed, it is good to be home from the San Diego Comic-Con.

Like the guys that climb Everest, we’re exhausted and pretty dead tired.

That said, here are some initial highlights: (My mind = mush)

• Seeing all of our friends there, artists and supporters.
• Having dinner with Loter inc. and Mitchel Bernal, the creator of Skullanimals.
• Sharing a bunk and many meals with the Walker folks (Ben, Andrea, Angel, Charles.)
• People wondering when a Monster Commute collection was coming out.
• Meeting Chris Sanders of Kiskaloo.

Well, all of that, and it was our most successful event… ever. I say it every year, but this year people went crazy for our stuff, and we did really well. We blew away our sales goals, which was pretty incredible.

So, thanks!

I need some sleep.

- Daniel

Try all new Pork in a Bottle!

It’s delicious. It’s nutritious. It’s damn powerful!

Each tiny bottle contains the AUTHORITY’s daily recommended pork allowance; there’s an entire pig inside each one!

What’s more, Pork in a Bottle makes a great snack for modern creatures on the go! And babies love Pork, too!

So, when you’re in need of a good meal, or some clerical healing, grab a fistful of Pork in a Bottle!

Now available at ONI ONI Mart!

- Troll Jazz radio advertisement

We’re generally recovering from the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, though I think that we’re still a bit groggy from it all.

Dawna and I got to play full-time Steam Crow employees for like 11 days, so that was pretty cool.

As soon as we got back I was interviewed by the Phoenix New Times Geek Beat blog, which was pretty cool. I knocked that out in a stupor, so I’m amazed that it makes any sense at all. Thanks to Wynter for making that happen.

Yesterday was our son’s birthday, so we spent last night focusing on him. We ate sushi and chocolate cake, and went for a swim. It’s been epic hot here in Phoenix of late, and even the pool water is closing in on 90 degrees. That said, it’s still refreshing.

Next up: Trying to survive this week, spending time with the boy, and taking care of everything that slipped by with the San Diego prep. We’re out of food, laundry, and common sense around here.

- Daniel

Note: Some of you bought today’s comic as a mini print at the SDCC. Thanks! That was nice of you.

We’ve decided to begin working on our first collection of the Monster Commute – in book form.

It will collect the first X# of strips, how many I’m just not sure of just yet. I’m hoping to offer some extras as well, though a lot of that hasn’t been determined just yet either.

Our goal is to have it in hand in the first quarter of 2010, and to put out at least one book per year.

Now’s your chance to help influence the project:

• What kind of extras would you like to see?
• Should I include any commentary? (like the blog)
• What could I do to make it irresistible to you?

Once we get rolling (and months closer) I’ll be doing a pre-order drive to help make this a reality.

Would you consider preordering it? (When it’s almost done.)

- Daniel

I’ve been feeling pretty good, lately.

Post SDCC, I’ve finally been getting some sleep, and have been sleeping for 8-10 hrs per day, which has likely resulted in the Con Sars.

Con Sars – [kon-sarzh] Illness brought on from attending or exhibiting at a comic convention, most often arising within 1-5 days of the closing of the exhibit hall.

Dawna and I did really well not partying or anything like that (we’re too old, you know) but it is very difficult to get dinner and into bed after a day of SDCC. Time just travels faster.

Here’s our typical post-con evening schedule:

- Exhibit doors close at 7:00 pm.
- 7:00-7:45 we put things away and break down the table.
- 7:46 a friend wanders by, and asks how things are going. We exchange info and tales of wonder.
- 8:53 security pushes us out of the convention hall.
- 8:55 we walk to the Hilton to catch a cab.
- 9:27 we hail a cab.
- 9:46 we enter the cab, and wind our way through traffic. Driver is a “voice actor” and does really corny voice impressions. Conversation is inevitably steered to cocaine by the cabbie.
- 10:09 we arrive at the restaurant, and laugh with the Walkers.
- 10:27-11:19 nom nom.
- 11:41 we arrive at the hotel.
- 11:47 we try to make each other laugh more, and exchange tales of woe.
- 12:38 we kill the ants that are swarming over our kitchenette. We call room service.
- 12:77 room service arrives, and sprays poison all over the place.
- 12:98 we go to bed.
- 2:55 I still can’t sleep.
- 4:30 am next day, we get up so that we can park beneath the exhibit hall.

Honest, it was pretty much like this every day.

But boy was it fun.

- Daniel

Recently I’ve been spending a little time working out some of the history of Monstru.

I’ve found that the more that one knows about the past, the more one understands about the present. It’s allowing me to hopefully craft better stories (in the long run) and make a more interesting world (in the short run.)

There are a number of questions about the world that I’d like to get to the bottom of:

• How did the Authority rise to power?
• What is their secret(s)?
• Who is Lincolnstein? What is his agenda?
• Why are Chad and Beastio so old? What’s their true past?
• Why CrowBots and not PorkBots or GoatBots?
• Why does everyone live in their cars today?
• How do these monster-folks make their living?
• What is the relationship between Earth and Monstru?

Yes, yes, I already know the broad strokes of most of these for certain. But I’m just now uncovering the subtle details and mechanization that put them in their places.

I took a class in college called “The History of Europe after WWI” which was incredibly interesting, and awoke the possibilty and wonder of crafting rich histories for my imaginary worlds. It also reminded me to look at real history for the inspiration, since reference is a powerful thing.

I’ve only just begun, but I’ve discovered some things about MONSTRU that I didn’t know already, which encourages me to work even harder at it. I’m not attempting to build a world so rigidly defined that I get myself stuck when I try to build more, but rather I’m trying to create a chain of events that are in themselves, inspiring.

- Daniel

CLASSIFIED:
Level 19

DATE:
2E1477

NUMBER:
SK-659831768613217-5645

NAME:
Operation Dark Harvest

SPONSORING OFFICER:
General Inquisinator Vule 9

ORDER:
All available Bone Monks shall harvest all “exceptional” electro skulls from the Worch region,  Battletown mine.

Return them to Reunion Station 171K for processing and evaluation.

Do not tamper with the exhibits, or the attendees, of the Battletown Theme Park unless entirely necessary.

Agents that are compromised or identified shall exercise self eradication.